CLEANING OF BLOOD-CONTAMINATED REPROCESSED ANGIOGRAPHIC CATHETERS AND SPINAL NEEDLES

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of a multistep cleaning method using a cleaner and a chemical disinfectant on blood-contaminated angiographic catheters and spinal needles intended to be sterilized by hydrogen peroxide gas plasma. METHOD: A mixture of radiopaque iodine contrast, bovine blood (plus ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), and a sus-pension of Bacillus subtilis spores was used to simulate catheteri-zation and needle use. The mixture was a 1:1 proportion of con-trast and blood, inoculated so that there was a final concentration of B subtilis spores of 1.0106 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL. The inoculated devices were cleaned using a hydrogen peroxide solution at a concentration of 1.50.5 percent by weight, followed by distilled water with enzymatic detergent. After drying, the devices were sterilized with hydrogen peroxide gas plasma. RESULTS: The initial B subtilis spore concentration inocu