Efficient cleaning solutions: chemical insights for veterinary clinics

Photos courtesy of MicroCare Medical

Short-term manual soaking postprocedure breaks down soils and prevents them from drying on instruments

In the hustle and bustle of a veterinary clinic, time is a precious commodity. Every minute counts, especially when it comes to keeping high infection control standards, while managing multiple procedures simultaneously. However, instruments require immediate cleaning after use, and the drying of soils on these instruments can lead to unnecessary complications. So, how can veterinary clinics effectively combat this issue and streamline their cleaning processes?

Understanding the problem

Picture this: a busy day at the clinic with back-to-back procedures. The instruments used in these procedures pile up, waiting to be cleaned. Unfortunately, soil on these instruments can dry within minutes, making cleaning a more laborious and time-consuming task. Vigorous scrubbing becomes necessary, leading to potential corrosion of instruments and increased cleaning time.

Solutions at hand

Thankfully, there are proactive measures clinics can take to prevent the drying of soils on instruments, thereby saving time and ensuring efficient cleaning processes. Here are some strategies to consider:

• Soaking: Immediate manual soaking of instruments post-procedure is crucial. Enzymatic detergents are effective in breaking down soils and keeping instruments wet, thus preventing drying. However, it's essential to limit soak time to no more than 30 minutes to avoid corrosion issues.
• Pretreatment: In scenarios where the time between procedure and cleaning exceeds 30 minutes, pretreatment of instruments with enzymatic sprays or sponges is highly beneficial. These products break down soils and start the cleaning process, while protecting instruments during extended delays.
• Endoscope cleaning:For endoscopes, specialized pretreatment cleaning sponges are invaluable. These sponges, saturated with quadruple enzymatic detergent, are designed to clean the outer surface of endoscopes and flush the inside, ensuring thorough cleaning and maintenance of these delicate instruments.

Specialized pretreatment cleaning sponges clean the outer surface of endoscopes and flush the inside

Maximizing Efficiency

Efficiency is paramount in any veterinary clinic. By implementing proper cleaning processes and using veterinary-approved cleaning chemicals, clinics can ensure that instrument cleaning never becomes a bottleneck in their operations.

Conclusion

With the right strategies in place, clinics can save time, increase productivity, and support best infection control standards, ultimately enhancing the quality of care provided to their animal patients. With the right knowledge and tools, veterinary clinics can take control of their time and navigate through busy workdays with ease, all while prioritizing the health and safety of their patients.

Melissa Benkert is account manager for MicroCare Medical, which specializes in cleaning and infection control fluids for the veterinary industry.