Sterilizing Catheters Microwave

Microwaves are used in medicine for disinfection of soft contact lenses dental instruments dentures milk and urinary catheters for intermittent self cat.

Sterilizing catheters microwave.

However now the microwave oven is almost as common as the stove in most kitchens with at least 1 microwave oven in 83 of households 18 making it a convenient and practical method of catheter sterilization for many patients. How to sterilize jars using microwave in 60 seconds. Microwaves used for sterilization of medical devices have not been fda cleared. Studies were conducted utilizing a home microwave oven to sterilize catheters commonly used for intermittent self catherization.

Studies have shown non latex catheters have not become sterile when microwaved. Repeat sterilization in the microwave oven did not affect the integrity of the catheters or the plastic bags. Alcohol is the best way to sterilize catheters. Coli klebsiella pneumoniae candida albicans were eliminated from red rubber catheters within 5 minutes 931.

Red rubber urinary catheters were inoculated with common clinical uropathogens and were placed in sealed brown paper bags or ziploc plastic freezer bags and microwaved at full power for various timed intervals. Sterilizing without an autoclave biology minute duration. A standard household 650 w microwave oven was used to sterilize polyethylene catheters of the type used for intermittent self catheterization. Bleach and betadine solutions may be just as safe but there has not been research done on these solutions.

Of our patients almost 75 reported using a microwave oven for sterilization and the majority used 4 to 5 catheters daily. Adequacy of sanitization and storage of catheters for intermittent use after washing and microwave sterilization. The catheters were infected with proteus sp. The use of microwave ovens to disinfect intermittent use catheters also has been suggested.

Do not use a microwave oven to sterilize urinary catheters. Researchers found that test bacteria e g e. Cdc disinfection sterilization guideline steril methods hicpac microwave. Sterilize catheters at home no special equipment required.

Bacteria and microwaved at 650 w for periods of 2 4 6 and 8 minutes. A water heat sink of constant volume was employed.