Autoclave Cleaning

Do you know anyone at another hospital? Even if not, try calling another hospital, ask to speak to someone in their maintenance department and (net)work your way to the person who is responsible for the autoclaves. Find out:

• if they have an autoclave like yours
• whether they have one like yours or not, do they have a similar problem
• if so, what do they do about it
• if not, has that person ever seen / heard of a similar problem
  

My question is whether this is really a problem or not--i.e., is it just a cosmetic issue. Surely, as long as the temperature (pressure) in the autoclave reaches the required level and stays there long enough, the instruments will be sterilized properly.

If the material on the inner surface is somehow crumbly, that might be a problem. When I've seen autoclaved instruments ready for use, they've been in a (presumably sterile) wrapping. Is that wrapping run through the autoclave (i.e., are the instruments wrapped while in the autoclave)?

Of course it is only cosmetic and as a Qualified Test Person Autoclaves I understand that in all Irish hospitals that the maintenance departments do not concern themselves with these issues and pass the work to outside contractors. There are no companies doing this procedure in Ireland and so that is why I asked the question.

My suggestion, not that you are going to take it on board, is to let it be. You state that you are a Qualified Test Person Autoclaves and with all respect how does that have anything to do with cleaning of a 316 surface, are you sure that it 316 and not 304? Since you are a Qualified Test Person Autoclaves you will surely be questioning the usage of steam that leaves such staining? My guess is that this is not Pure Steam/ Clean Steam (both are not the same but the terms are often used interchangeably) or it is not 316. FYI normally autoclaves chambers are manufactured from 316L, but I guess you already knew that since you are a Qualified Test Person Autoclaves.

You do tend to use the term Qualified Test Person .... in quite a number of your posts.

Normally I do not reply to people who hide as a "Guest" and so if you wish to comment please use your log in name otherwise please refrain from silly comments and use your handle or register if you know how to.

Two commercial products, 'Lime Away' and 'CLR' are used for removing stains left by mineral deposits in water. They are designed for homeowners to use, so you could use them with a reasonable amount of caution. Straight white vinegar will also remove most of these type of deposits and stains. And, depending on how large the chamber is and how much physical labor you want to do, very fine steel wool, grade #0000, will probably remove the stains without scratching the metal surface. -- Maybe a combination of one of these liquids and the steel wool would work for you. Even though these are 'safe' you would want to use an air-filtering mask and/or do this in a well-ventilated area.

For the future you might want to consider adding some (or some more) in-line filtering of your water supply before it enters the boiler. Or switch to pure distilled water.

I agree with USB port (sort of), if the deposit is from hardness from the water then it will be Calcium / Magnesium Sulfate / Carbonate. This is best removed by weak acid, such as Citric Acid (which is also a chelating agent) or vinegar (acetic acid). CLR is a commercial product that will achieve this well.

However, having said that, I doubt it is hardness from the water, because the hardness isn't soluble in the steam (only in the water), and it won't travel through steam pipes, it will only collect on the surfaces of heat exchanger.

Unless water is being evaporated (into steam) inside the autoclave, I doubt very much that your deposit is mineral from the water.

Sorry I cannot hypothesize further on what the deposit may be.

Hope this helps,

Anthony

Perhaps this might work?

http://www.soda-blast.com/soda_pot_mini.htm

Thanks Woodyqb. That looks like it may work. I will contact them to discuss possibilities for SS cleaning. Again thank you.

you can get assorted ground nut shells that are softer than steel and harder than most dirt scum and use a air blaster.

nut shell search

If the interior is 316, you might be able to use oxcalic acid to clean it. if it is 304 it will discolor the stainless.

Here in Oman operation of autoclave machines are carried out by trained technicians. Its maintenance is carried out by engineering department We carryout regular PPM and sometimes we use a solution supplied by infection control sterilization department to clean autoclave machines. These machines are working on steam supplied from central boilers located in services building of the hospital.

Autoclaves accumulate an organic mixture that is flexible and resilient, so abrasives are not best. A very strong alkali will hydrolyze these mixtures.

Oxi titan anti- microbial coatings,among others.

Most autoclave manufacturers have a pre-cleaner, descaler solutions, and brushes that can be used on their systems. Check with your autoclave manufacturer for your specific autoclaves. . It can be a bit time-consuming while you are learning but if you keep up on a cleaning schedule or perhaps assign a person to be responsible for such cleaning (perhaps a weekend or night shift person or rotate this work to all staff so that everyone can do this procedure).

If you contact any manufacturer for cleaning and de infection chemical (generally comes as liquid) they will be very happy to sale to you. If you do not get this then mix 50:50 mix of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide and and clean using this solution. Final cleaning needs to be with hydrogen peroxide to de infect the chamber.

I will still prefer to contact any manufacturer and get solution so certification will be easy and for future you do not have depend of making own solutions.

You should consider filtering the steam before it enters the Autoclave. Here is a link to one manufacturer of these filters: http://www.spiraxsarco.com/pdfs/SB/p185_06.pdf

Even though the link mentions the need for something like this for autoclaves, I'm not sure it will solve the entire problem. Sure, it seems it will eliminate pipe scale (particles) that are already in the steam stream, but aren't some things dissolved in the steam and likely to condense out (with the steam, when it condenses) downstream of the filter?

I do not know the answer, I suggest you contact them if you are considering this option. I have never used their filters, just their steam traps.

GOOD LUCK!

Scaling as it is called technically is the major problem in hospitals as well as in domestic appliances like coffee/ tea makers.

I think that WD-40 may be studied for your problem.

To add:

In early days [1950s - 70s] we in hospitals were using to clean Sterilisers [open type] with Soda-Bi-Corbonate** [used in cooking and zeast] but never got good results. [ ** Na² CO³ I think ]

And in autoclaves cleaning was impossible and only the replacement was the only way.

Later water-conditioning plants were offered by Rittle Germany for Dental-units piping protection /reduction in scaling which were also used for water inlet to Autoclaves.

May be some more advanced solution for cleaning & reduction of scaling be in the market.

Hi irelandeng, We have sucessfully used the high pressure washing units developed by Karcher, for cleaning. You may visit their website: www.karcher.de and select a suitable product for your application. Good Luck. Rangasamy