In the practice of veterinary medicine, various medical procedures are performed both in the field and in the office. These routines include scheduled and emergency consultations, laboratory diagnostics, outpatient surgery and others requiring hospitalization, among others.
All these procedures use reusable instruments and materials that must be properly sanitized after use. It is important to remember that if the instruments used are dried before cleaning, the biofilm formed by the microbes will offer resistance to antibiotics, disinfectants and sterilization agents, which will make the cleaning routine even more difficult. This makes it necessary to resort to direct mechanical friction or chemicals to remove the biofilm.
When consultations or surgical procedures are performed in the facilities (clinics, doctor’s offices), the cleaning routine does not represent a significant obstacle, in theory. However, when these activities are performed in the field, the cleaning of the instruments used can become complicated. In these cases, the use of portable ultrasonic cleaners can facilitate the instrument cleaning routine and be of great help to professionals in this discipline.
Likewise, this equipment constitutes a fundamental support for the veterinary practice carried out in veterinary offices and clinics, so it is recommended that it be included in the equipment of these establishments and that it be used routinely in the cleaning and disinfection of instruments and materials.
Contamination level of instruments and materials used in the practice of veterinary medicine.
We can define non-critical, semi-critical and critical instruments or materials. In the first group, we have instruments that are not in direct contact with patients or only come into contact with healthy skin. In this class of items, we only require cleaning and drying and the level of disinfection needed will be low or medium. For example, the serum-holding device.
Semi-critical materials include those that come into contact with mucous membranes or with skin that is not intact, i.e. with wounds. In these cases, although sterilization is not indispensable, it is advisable to apply it. With the exception of those materials that do not support the sterilization process. In this group of objects we will apply high-level disinfection.
Instruments and materials included in the critical group are those that come into contact with cavities that, under normal conditions, are sterile. For example, the urinary bladder or the thoracic cavity. This group of instruments includes surgical instruments, among others. They represent a high risk of infection for the patient, therefore, they must be sterile.
Cleaning and disinfection in the practice of veterinary medicine
As in human medicine, in veterinary practice all aspects related to the cleaning and disinfection of the instruments and materials used must be taken care of. It is important to remember that, if the cleaning of the instruments is not efficient, the remaining inorganic and organic residues, besides serving as support and providing nutrients to the microorganisms, will prevent the disinfection products from making contact with the surface of the instrument, thus hindering its disinfection and sterilization.
Cleaning is nothing more than the removal of dirt from inert surfaces, through mechanical and physical actions, using special solutions. Cleaning allows the elimination of between 80 and 99% of microbes sensitive to cleaning liquids, according to some studies.
Ultrasonic cleaners for cleaning and disinfection in the practice of veterinary medicine
Ultrasonic cleaning equipment is ideal for veterinary establishments and for professionals working in the field. This equipment uses ultrasound and special solutions, which make it possible to sanitize the materials used.
The cavitation produced by the high-frequency waves emitted in the cleaning solution releases enough energy to dislodge the residues adhered to the instruments. One of the most outstanding advantages of this equipment is that, in addition to eliminating residues efficiently, it can perform a medium-high level disinfection of the materials.
The level of disinfection will depend on the solutions used and the time the materials are immersed in the solution. For example, a solution containing 2% Glutaraldehyde will have a bactericidal and virucidal action if the materials are immersed for 10 minutes. If the immersion time is between 3 to 10 hours, it will provide a sporicidal action. When reaching 10 hours, it will have a sterilizing action.
However, because Glutaraldehyde emits vapors and can be toxic, it has been displaced by other high-level disinfectants, such as 2% hydrogen peroxide. This is a biodegradable disinfectant and no protective measures are required when using it. Once the material is disinfected, it needs to be rinsed with abundant distilled water to remove the disinfectant. They are then dried and packaged.
Kalstein ultrasonic cleaners
The YR series offers a wide variety of ultrasonic cleaners, suitable for veterinary establishments. You will also find models that are easy to transport. You can choose the one that best suits your needs. These products are automated and have digital display and control.
They have different adjustable running times, which can meet customer’s cleaning requirements for different items. In addition, they offer improved cleaning performance and minimum noise level, high energy conversion efficiency and long service life. For more information about Kalstein ultrasonic cleaners, please visit HERE.
We are manufacturers, so at Kalstein you can purchase ultrasonic cleaners at advantageous prices. For more detailed information, please visit HERE.