Sterilisation standards
The sterilising of reusable medical devices is a specialised area of infection prevention. Quality management of reprocessing of reusable instruments and equipment is essential in ensuring a reliable and reproducible process is performed.
The recommended guidance for reprocessing of reusable instruments and equipment is contained within Australian Standard AS5369:2023. All sterilising facilities should have ready access to this document.
Instructions to access this standard electronically from the SA Health Library Service can be found on the Health Library Service FAQs page.
Training
Staff who undertake reprocessing of reusable medical devices must be trained in the necessary procedures. There are specific courses in sterilisation available locally through tertiary institutions for example:
- Certificate III in Sterilisation Services (delivered by ANMEC and TIME)
- Certificate IV in Sterilisation Services (delivered by ANMEC)
- Reprocessing of endoscopes online learning package (GENCA).