The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of surgical instruments’ manual cleaning versus automated cleaning in an ultrasonic cleaner for the removal of biofilms on surgical forceps contaminated with Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Subsequently, the residual microbial load was quantified through microbiological culture, aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of biofilm removal under different reprocessing conditions. Cleaning is an essential step in the processing of surgical instruments to ensure the effective removal of dirt and microorganisms. Through adhesion, microorganisms can attach to surfaces and form biofilms, organized structures surrounded by an extracellular matrix consisting of various components, which favor metabolic exchanges, adaptation, resistance, and bacterial dispersion. These biofilms increase the pathogenic potential of microorganisms, contributing to the occurrence of Healthcare-Associated Infections, and to avoid these, it is essential that preventive measures aimed at microbial reduction are adopted. Automated cleaning proved more effective than manual cleaning, and the combined approach achieved the greatest microbial reduction, though persistent contamination was still observed. The ability of adhesion and biofilm formation on the surfaces of surgical instruments is regarded as a challenge for complete microbial removal. These findings enhance the need for more rigorous reprocessing protocols and complementary strategies to ensure greater safety in the use of reusable instruments in clinical practice.
Filho et al. (Wed,) studied this question.