Sterilization Process Validation: Physical, Chemical, and Biological Controls

Sterilization Process Validation: Ensuring Effective Control

Objective: To ensure effective sterilization.

Physical Controls

Values of pressure, temperature, time, and humidity are monitored to ensure proper sterilization parameters are met.

Chemical Controls

Chemical controls are compounds that change color upon interaction with the sterilizing agent. External indicators show that the sterilizing agent reached the surface of the package. Internal indicators confirm whether the sterilizing agent penetrated inside the package. The Dick Bowie test, commonly used in autoclaves, uses paper impregnated with a compound that changes color upon successful sterilization. It is used daily to verify the device's functionality and the sterilizing agent's reach.

Biological Controls

These controls contain spores of microorganisms. After sterilization, they are placed in conditions conducive to growth. If no growth occurs, it indicates that the sterilizing agent effectively killed the spores.

Types of Surgical Assistance

Major Surgery

Complex interventions that pose a risk to the patient. These are performed in hospital operating rooms and require patient admission.

Minor Surgery

Simple and short interventions with minimal risk, often performed in health center procedure rooms. Both types of surgery carry a risk of infection due to the skin barrier being breached.

Surgical Stages:

• Preoperative: From the decision to perform surgery until the intervention begins.
• Intraoperative: The duration of the intervention (minutes, hours).
• Postoperative: Begins after the intervention, when the patient enters the recovery unit, and ends upon discharge.

Surgical Assistance: Ensuring Patient Well-being

Objective: To ensure the patient arrives at the operation in the best possible physical and mental condition, reducing the risk of complications during and after surgery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist with further testing.
• Assist in cleansing the patient's body with antiseptic soap (umbilical area, axilla, nostrils, mouth hygiene, nails).
• Shave the area to be operated on.
• Administer cleansing enemas.
• Ensure the patient does not eat or drink before the intervention.
• Assist in collecting and recording vital signs.
• Remove prostheses and deliver them to the patient's family.
• Ensure the patient urinates before surgery.
• Prepare the patient: hair up (if long), clean pajamas, no hat.
• Ensure clean bed sheets and bring the patient's medical history.
• Prepare the recovery unit to receive the patient.