Objective

2

To analyze differences of purified water，softened water，and concentrated softened water on the decontamination effects for surgical instruments，so as to provide a reliable reference for the selection of cleaning water for surgical instruments.

Methods

2

The physical and chemical indexes and components of concentrated softened water，softened water，and purified water were detected，and their cleaning effects for instrument were compared. The decontamination cleaning experiment was conducted in three hospitals with different types of cleaning water using mini cleaning machines，and the differences in the decontamination time were analyzed. The cleaning and decontamination experiments on contaminated instruments was performed using a spray cleaning and disinfection device，and the cleaning effects of instruments with different types of cleaning water were analyzed.

Results

2

Calcium content and hardness of the three types of cleaning water were all at a low level，which can avoid scale adhesion for cleaning surgical instruments. There were statistically significant differences in the pH value，conductivity，and contents of calcium，sodium and chloride among the three cleaning waters （

P

<

0.05）. The purified water was weakly acidic，and its conductivity，hardness，and contents of calcium，sodium and chloride were all at low levels. The softened water and concentrated softened water were weakly alkaline，with high levels of conductivity and sodium content and low level of chloride. There were statistically significant differences in the decontamination time of the purified water，softened water and concentrated softened water among hospitals （

P

<

0.05）. Under the same contamination condition of surgical instruments，there was a statistically significant difference in the qualified rate of instruments cleaning in the upper and lower cleaning baskets with different cleaning waters （

P

<

0.05）.

Conclusion

2

Concentrated softened water and softened water have high sodium content，and their decontamination and cleaning abilities are significantly stronger than those of the purified water. Purified water has poorer effects in instruments cleaning for its deionized property. Using concentrated softened water or softened water in the surgical instrument cleaning process can achieve effects of reducing consumption and increasing efficiency，which is conducive to improving cleaning efficiency and quality.