Features of storing medical instruments

In medicine, an integral attribute of doctors of all specialties are various types of tools, without which it is impossible to imagine their work. By following the instructions for care and proper storage, you can prevent premature wear and failure.

Ensuring optimal storage conditions

Medical surgical instruments and other metal materials should be stored in a room with good ventilation and an air temperature of 23-25 °C, as well as humidity up to 70%. When stored in areas with climate humidity exceeding the permissible norm, their quality should be monitored on a regular basis on a monthly basis. It is acceptable to store metal tools at 15-20°C and humidity of 80%, if they were specially preserved for these conditions. The determination of the shelf life for all of the above indicators should be checked and evaluated for various storage locations of sterile products.

Basic principles of storing medical instruments

The conditions for the safety of medical devices properly prescribe the following:

• The amount of sterile materials stored in the room for their use must meet current needs.
• Keep tightly Packed instruments, such as injection needles and syringes, in conditions that prevent damage or wetness to the packaging.
• Metal products must be protected from excessive temperature fluctuations, changes in humidity, mechanical influences and direct sunlight.
• Sterilized materials are stored separately from non-sterile materials to prevent re-contamination.
• Apply a thin layer of vaseline and wrap it with waxed paper on metal medical items and surgical equipment received without anti-corrosive industrial lubricant.
• Cast iron, tin, copper, iron and brass products should be stored in a dry, well-heated room, so they do not need lubrication.
• All medical instruments must be contained in the manufacturer's packaging material (boxes, bags made of polyethylene or paper), which are marked with the name of the products stored in them.
• Tools should never be stored in bulk or in a Cabinet containing disinfectants, medications, and aggressive chemicals that negatively affect the metal, leading to corrosion processes.
• Sterile instruments in the dental office are stored in separate closed boxes, cabinets or special containers.
• Collapsible devices must be disassembled into parts after use and before storage and treated with active cleaning disinfectants, submerged in the solution for 10 minutes so that all surfaces, cavities, gaps and holes are covered.
• Micro-tools and tools with thin ends should not be cleaned by ultrasound, but manually or mechanically and stored in special devices.
• If rust appears on metal products, remove it with crushed charcoal or fine sandpaper. After that, this surface is covered with grease. Do not use abrasive cleaners or metal brushes.
• The green oxide film formed on copper devices is removed with chalk. Items made of cast iron are wiped with a piece of dry graphite.

To prevent contamination of sterile instruments, it is necessary to clearly define procedures for daily cleaning of the storage area and regular cleaning of air vents.

Compliance with cleanliness and sterilization standards is a constant challenge for medical facilities, especially when they are faced with limited space. In this case, various structures and equipment come to the rescue.

Medical boxes – for safe storage

Sterilization boxes of rectangular, square or round shapes are containers that are specially adapted for proper storage of surgical instruments. They are made of high-quality stainless steel, which can be sterilized, as this is a necessary condition for such containers. Medical boxes are a safe transport of surgical instruments, ensuring hygiene and minimal contact with the external environment, which is especially important during operations. Dangerous devices such as scalpels and knives should be wrapped in paper and stored in medical cases with latches or even locks that can be locked. This is necessary so that they do not become blunt and they do not form notches.

Special operating cabinets. Ventilated racks

Dry-air sterilizers do not just create a barrier between objects and potential pollutants such as dust, dirt, viruses or bacteria. They regulate humidity and temperature to increase the shelf life of surgical instruments and other sensitive metal products. These cabinets create optimal conditions for maintaining the existing level of cleanliness of instruments after they have been sterilized or are still in the original sealed packaging. Both closed and open lattice racks can also be used for storage, but cleaning the lattice shelves may require more attention.

Maintaining the correct temperature and humidity conditions is very important for the protection of medical instruments. High temperatures can damage materials or break seals in the original packaging. The accumulation of moisture creates a breeding ground for microorganisms. This is a risk even for short-term storage, but even more so for long-term storage with irregular access. Therefore, once a year it is necessary to check the condition of metal products.