Sterilization of the handengine. Is it a necessity?
BACKGROUND
The risk of interpatient infection through a dermabrasion handpiece is not known, nor is there a published standard of handpiece maintenance.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possibility of transferring material through the handpiece and evaluate the methods used by dermatologists to disinfect and/or sterilize dermabrasion equipment.


METHODS
Handengines run while immersed in fluorescein-dyed alcohol were observed for fluorescence. After dermabrasion of a fluorescein-basted pig's foot the instrument was inspected. A survey of handpiece disinfection/sterilization procedures was sent to 114 members of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.


RESULTS
Although material can be transmitted to the motor/handpiece through the chuck and vice versa, contamination of the instrument did not occur in a dermabrasion simulation. 58.7% of respondents sterilize the chuck and only 38.1% sterilize the motor/handpiece.


CONCLUSIONS
No absolute requirement to sterilize the handengine is warranted. It is prudent however to sterilize the chuck in a steam autoclave and gas sterilize the motor/handpiece to eliminate the rare possibility of cross-contamination.
Department of Dermatologic Surgery, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, California.
R M
RM
Shelton
R C
RC
Grekin
D000433:1-Propanol; D000818:Animals; D003869:Dermabrasion / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D004867:Equipment Design; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D008153:Lubrication; D008283:Maintenance; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods; D013499:Surface Properties
D005452:Fluoresceins; D000433:1-Propanol