Medical Why is Handwashing Before Using a Cleaning Machine a Protocol Violation?

[Drakkith]

From this article:

Dr. Gina Michael, the association chief of staff at the hospital, told the affiliate that some dental technicians broke protocol by handwashing tools before putting them in cleaning machines.

The instruments were supposed to only be put in the cleaning machines, Michael said.

Can anyone tell me why handwashing an instrument before putting it in the cleaning machine is a no-no?

 

[SteamKing]

Well, the total circumstances surrounding the hand cleaning of the instruments are not clear, but don't you think that hand washing a potentially contaminated instrument can spread infection to the person doing the washing? And then this person is putting their hands in your mouth, even with gloves on?

Still, it's bad clinical practice. A doctor or a dentist should use disposable stuff or have an autoclave to sterilize instruments after each use.

 

[Drakkith]

Hmm, I see what you mean about spreading a disease to the person doing the washer, however it seems like they did use an autoclave or similar machine to clean their instruments after handwashing them. I wonder if the problem was that the tools were possible infected, or that the people were? (or both?)

 

[AlephZero]

They were also potentially contaminating the hand-washing facility, which might have been used by other people for supposedly "low risk" activities like (literally) hand washing.

 

[atyy]

http://www.va.gov/oig/54/reports/VAOIG-10-03346-112.pdf
- Soiled items were observed being packaged and heat-sealed for sterilization without proper cleaning.
- Items were visibly dirty post-sterilization.
- Items sealed for sterilization were visibly wet.
- A basin was observed to be incorrectly wrapped prior to sterilization.
- Items were being packaged for the incorrect sterilization method.
- Standard operating procedures (SOPs), manufacturers’ instructions, and staff competencies were not available for review.
- Staff was not familiar with relevant VHA guidance regarding RME.

 

[Drakkith]

Thanks, Atyy, that makes a lot more sense.