Page 31 - Compendium Chapters for Course 1 (IC, DPA, OSHA)

First of all, use only bags, pouches, or wraps that have been designed for the sterilizer you are using. For example, paper bags work well in an autoclave but char and disintegrate in dry heat sterilizers. Specially designed sealing plastic packages work well in autoclaves and dry heat sterilizers but are not recommended for unsaturated chemical vapor units, because the vapor cannot readily penetrate through the plastic.
When using metal or plastic cassette systems, the dental assistant should place the cleaned instruments into the cassette and keep it closed. Wrap the entire unit with specially designed wrap (eg: CSR blue wrap) or cloth and secure the edges with indicator autoclave tape. This will provide excellent protection against contamination once the cassette is removed from the sterilizer and stored.
Secondly, tightly capped containers should never be used because steam and chemical vapors cannot penetrate into the interior of the container. Similarly, biohazard bags should not be tightly closed when sterilizing the contents.
Many sterilizer bags and tapes have chemical markers that change colors following sterilization. These should be checked daily to confirm that the packages were subjected to sterilizing conditions. Only the weekly biologic monitor is sufficient to verify that the conditions were maintained sufficiently to achieve sterility. Chemical indicators cannot be used as substitutes for biologic indicators. Because of the open space within cassettes, stacking them flat in the sterilizer is acceptable.
When loading the sterilizer, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. In general, placing individual packages on edge rather than flat is better. But be careful not to overload the unit, and make sure the minimum exposure times are achieved. Wrapped cassettes may be placed flat in the sterilizer.
THE CASSETTE SYSTEM TO MANAGE INSTRUMENTS
An increasing need occurs in dental offices to develop more effective ways to organize, clean, sterilize, and store dental instruments. Manufacturers have developed cassette systems that provide efficiency and methods of infectious disease control. Cassettes are designed to hold complete procedural setups. A number of accessory-perforated, stainless steel boxes also exist, which can provide easy organization for smaller items. This allows the dental assistant to have organized and sterile setups ready for immediate use.
A cassette can be opened and set directly on the prepared working area with the instruments
removed directly from the cassette and replaced into the cassette as the procedure is
Intro Page - 31
Introductory Chapter: Dental Practice Act, Infection Control and Cal-OSHA
The California RDAEF: A Compendium for Licensure Success © The Foundation for Allied Dental Education, Inc. 2016 Copyright protected. All rights reserved