A METHOD FOR THE DECONTAMINATION OF MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS

摘要

An automated method for the decontamination of medical instruments such as endoscopes, in which the instrument is firstly placed within a cleaning chamber of an automated decontamination device. A cleaning phase is then commenced for the removal of contaminated material from the device. Subsequent to the cleaning phase a disinfectant phase is commenced which comprises the application of a disinfectant to the instrument, which may be hypochlorous acid. Following the disinfectant phase a drying phase is immediately commenced with no rinse stage occurring. In the drying phase the hypochlorous acid is allowed to dry on the surface of the instrument such that at least those parts of the instrument intended for internal contact with a patient are substantially coated with a dried layer of hypochlorous acid which is retained during storage and until use of the instrument.