Cleaning is a vital part of patient care in the healthcare industry, so there are multiple forms of cleaning that offer different outcomes. Sometimes, disinfecting a set of instruments with an alcohol prep pad is not enough, and full sterilization is the most appropriate health measure. Here, we explore the differences between these two methods and why they matter to medical providers, patients, and instruments.

What Does It Mean To Disinfect?

Disinfecting uses chemical solutions to decrease or eliminate surface pathogens or bacterial growth. Commonly, chemical solutions such as alcohol, chlorine, bleach, or iodine are topically applied to a given surface to help stop the growth of these harmful pathogens. Disinfecting surfaces and instruments between each patient is vital in offering each new patient safe and ethical medical care.

However, disinfecting a surface of any size does not mean you prevent the surface from developing or spreading germs. It just means the risk is temporarily reduced.

What Does It Mean To Sterilize?

Sterilizing is a method of cleansing that inhibits the spread of germs and stops all growth on surfaces through pressure, heat, and irradiation. The primary objective of sterilizing is to halt the growth and spread of microorganisms by killing all their spores. Once the microorganisms are dead, the environment can sustain optimal sterile efforts and aid in ethical patient care.

This is a more thorough process than disinfecting and requires the use of professional-grade medical autoclaves in most or all medical settings.

The Key Differences

While there are similarities between the two methods, there is a critical difference between disinfecting and sterilizing. Disinfecting will only stop the spread of harmful bacteria, whereas sterilization will deactivate or kill all forms of living bacterial growth on a given surface.

Medical professionals and facilities will perform both methods, as they are vital to the health and safety of staff, patients, and guests. Equipping a facility with chemical solutions and autoclaves is the most effective way to ensure instrument and patient safety.

Cascade’s Solutions

Cascade Health Care offers reliable, professional-grade autoclaves and sterilizers for facilities and organizations. Our solutions enable each provider to administer safe, ethical care to every patient they treat. Browse our inventory or partner with a member of our team to learn more!