title: Efficacy of a washer-disinfector in eliminating healthcare-associated pathogens from surgical instruments.
abstract: This study was designed to test the efficacy of a washer-disinfector in eliminating selected healthcare-associated pathogens from surgical instruments. Our results showed that a washer-disinfector was extremely effective in eliminating microorganisms (>7-log(10) reduction), including vegetative and spore-forming bacteria, from experimentally contaminated instruments. The washer-disinfector remained effective in eliminating microorganisms in the absence of enzymatic cleaners and detergents.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Health Care, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Rutala
authors.forename: Maria F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Gergen
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000592:standards*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000254:growth & development; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000382:microbiology*