| National
Monitoring Guidelines
Dental
Practices
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings --- 2003
MMWR December 19, 2003 / 52(RR17); 1-61
| Sterilization
Monitoring |
| 1. |
Use
mechanical, chemical, and biological monitors according
to the manufacturer's instructions to ensure the
effectiveness of the sterilization process (IB) (248,278,279). |
| 2. |
Monitor
each load with mechanical (e.g., time, temperature,
and pressure) and chemical indicators (II) (243,248). |
| 3. |
Place
a chemical indicator on the inside of each package.
If the internal indicator is not visible from the
outside, also place an exterior chemical indicator
on the package (II) (243,254,257). |
| 4. |
Place
items/packages correctly and loosely into the sterilizer
so as not to impede penetration of the sterilant
(IB) (243). |
| 5. |
Do
not use instrument packs if mechanical or chemical
indicators indicate inadequate processing (IB) (243,247,248). |
| 6. |
Monitor
sterilizers at least weekly by using a biological
indicator with a matching control (i.e., biological
indicator and control from same lot number) (IB)
(2,9,243,247,278,279). |
| 7. |
Use
a biological indicator for every sterilizer load
that contains an implantable device. Verify results
before using the implantable device, whenever possible
(IB) (243,248). |
|
American
Dental Association (ADA)
Monitoring Sterilizers
Biological
Indicators
Monitor sterilizers at least
weekly with biological (spore) indicators.
1.Check whether your state dental board has different
requirements.
Consider using biological (spore)
indicators daily if the sterilizer is used frequently
(e.g., several loads per day). Daily monitoring allows
for earlier discovery of equipment malfunctions or
procedural errors.
A positive spore test result
indicates that sterilization was incomplete. Maintain
a log of spore test results. Check your state regulations
to determine how long you need to keep spore testing
records. |
|
Infection Control Guidelines: September, 1997
Sterilization Monitoring:
The use and functioning of heat sterilizers should be biologically monitored
at least weekly, or more often if the practice demands it, with appropriate spore
tests. Place the spore strips or vials inside a pouch, bag, pack or cassette,
and include this package as part of the normal load through a normal sterilizer
cycle. Always use a control spore strip or vial (not heat processed but otherwise
treated identically to the test strips or vials) with each spore test performed.
Additionally, chemical indicators should be used on the inside of each package
during every sterilizer load. Accurate records of sterilization monitoring must
be maintained. A chemical indicator from inside each pack may be initialed and
dated for each day of patient care and kept in a file. The weekly spore test
for each heat sterilization unit may be kept in the same file. Biologically monitor
whenever there is a change in packaging, following equipment repair; retest after
failure and
when training new employees. |
|
Association
for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
(AAMI)
AAMI: Steam Sterilization and Sterility Assurance, 7.5.4 Test Frequency.
"Biological indicators must
be used no less than weekly for each sterilizer
and, preferably, should be used for each load.
More frequent testing should be carried out on
an as needed basis (I.E., after major sterilizer
repairs, when evaluating sterilization of new products,
when implantable or intravascular materials are
sterilized, etc.)". |
|
Veteran's
Administration (VA)
VA Manual G1, MP-2, 1985 and MP-2, Sub-chapter E, Change 159, June 22, 1983.
"Must be monitored no
less than weekly, each load of implantables or
intravascular materials, following major sterilizer
repairs, new products or packaging material." |
|
|
This chart indicates individual
state law for mandating spore testing responsibility.
Other states may have county by county regulations. The national monitoring guidelines
should supersede the legal requirements for states not mandated by local government.
|
|
 |
|
This
chart indicates individual state law for
mandating spore testing responsibility.
Other states may have county by county regulations. The national
monitoring guidelines should supersede the legal requirements for
states not mandated by local government.
|
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