Autoclave cleaning

[New SPD Manager]

How often does everyone clean autoclaves? Do you base it on how many cases you do? Like, the more cases that are done, the more you run the sterilizers.

Thanks for your help. :o

[jyoung]

We clean our autoclaves once a week.

[jbarr]

Thorough cleaning once a quarter. I think it depends on build-upin the chamber, water quality, etc. The State Board of Health challenged us at one point and stated that we had to clean them everyday, according to manufacturers recommendations,which does not work in a 24-7 trauma center system. Nor do I believe it is necessary unless you are in a lab setting where spills may occur, etc. As I have conveyed to Gettinge & Steris, the manufacturers need to leave some flexibility in the instruction manual in regard to this issue.