title: Disinfection and Sterilization in Health Care Facilities: An Overview and Current Issues.
abstract: When properly used, disinfection and sterilization can ensure the safe use of invasive and noninvasive medical devices. The method of disinfection and sterilization depends on the intended use of the medical device: critical items (contact sterile tissue) must be sterilized before use; semicritical items (contact mucous membranes or nonintact skin) must be high-level disinfected; and noncritical items (contact intact skin) should receive low-level disinfection. Cleaning should always precede high-level disinfection and sterilization. Current disinfection and sterilization guidelines must be strictly followed.
authors: Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Health Care System, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7030, USA. Electronic address: brutala@unch.unc.edu.
authors: William A
authors: WA
authors: Rutala
authors: Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Health Care System, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7030, USA.
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Weber
mesh_terms: D004202:Disinfectants; D004203:Disinfection; D019723:Endoscopes; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D013242:Sterilization
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants
keywords: Disinfection; Health care facilities; Sterilization