The definition of Sterilization is the complete destruction of all forms of Microbial life. It is
important to remember that everything is assumed unsterile unless proven otherwise, and that
everything is either sterile or non-sterile there is NO in-between (Street, 2011). You
should also know the difference between the forms of sterile techniques. There is the Basic
Sterile Techniques and then there are Formal Sterile Techniques.
In Basic sterile techniques you need to keep your clothing and skin clean, you also
need to practice good hand washing. Where with Formal sterile techniques you have to also
keep the entire room clean and have to use protective clothing such as face masks, gloves and
gowns. Also knowing that any packages that have been damaged are considered non-sterile
will help you to keep your sterile fields as well as protect your patients from infections.
Sterilization is very important in controlling infections. You can receive infections in
many ways. You can get infections from other patients while in the hospital which is called
Nosocomial Infections. You can also receive infections from using contaminated tools or
from poor washing habits. There are also Superbugs which are resistant to antibiotics.
It is important to use sterilization to help in preventing infections the three means of reducing
infections are by having all staff members practice good sterile techniques, using isolation for
infected patients and by following proper room cleaning techniques. (Street, 2011)
There are four basic methods to sterilize things. These methods are by Gas sterilization,
Heat and Steam sterilization, Liquid sterilization and by Radiation. With Gas sterilization
you would use a temperature and humidity controlled enclosure and then Ethylene Oxide is
added. Heat and Steam sterilization involves using an Autoclave. Remember that not all
tools can withstand the autoclave due to the temperature so other methods must be used with
them. Liquid sterilization is usually a toxin called Glutaraldehyde it is commonly in a solution
form. But tools must be rinsed with a detergent such as sterile water and alcohol. The last
method of sterilization is Radiation this method requires the proper precautions, and is only
used in specific situations.
When deciding whether ethics are involved in sterilization you must look at the legal
side as well. Ethics can be needed when it involves using tools. It becomes a question of
ethics when you plan to use tools that have not been sterilized properly. But it also is needed
when deciding on the legal side of sterilization.
Ethics get involved when dealing with sterile or non-sterile tools but also when you are
talking about the sterilization of a person. There are two categories of this type of
sterilization there is Voluntary and Involuntary. With involuntary sterilization you have to
decide whether ethics are involved by determining whether a patient is having the procedure
because of medical reasons or to inflict pain or harm to themselves or another person.
(Runzheimer, 2011)
You have to meet certain legal conditions in order to receive or be subjected to
involuntary sterilization.
These conditions are:
 Whether the patient is competent enough to consent to procedure.
 Whether the patient is fertile and has access to sexual contact.
 If pregnancy has a possibility to be high-risk or can cause unacceptable burden.
 And whether the patient has no access to other types of contraception.
All these things can be linked to whether it is an ethical situation. In closing knowing how to
properly sterilize tools as well as rooms and yourself and what involves ethics and when and
how to resolve them. We will all be better in our chosen careers.
References
Runzheimer, J & Johnson Larsen, L 2011 Medical Ethics for Dummies, Indianapolis,
Indiana; Wiley Publishing, Inc.
Street, L.J. 2011 Clinical Procedures for Medical Technology Specialists, Boca Raton,
FL; Taylor & Francis Group.