Cleaning and Disinfection Machines Overview

Washer-Disinfector, Cart Washer, Pasteurmatic

Machines that use automated thermal cleaning and disinfection.

Stainless steel surgical instruments, bedpans, basins, respiratory equipment (Pasteurmatic), rolling carts (Cart Washer)

Items cleaned by Washer-Disinfector, Cart Washer, and Pasteurmatic.

Automated washing with detergent, thermal disinfection (71-93°C), high-pressure jets or spray arms, rinse, and sometimes air drying

How Washer-Disinfector, Cart Washer, and Pasteurmatic clean items.

Ultrasonic Cleaner, TD-100, AER (Automatic Endoscope Reprocessor)

Machines that clean delicate or complex instruments with specialized methods.

Delicate surgical instruments, TEE ultrasound probes, flexible and rigid endoscopes

Items cleaned by Ultrasonic Cleaner, TD-100, and AER.

Ultrasonic uses cavitation (sound waves). TD-100 and AER require pre-cleaning, followed by automated high-level disinfection using specific chemicals.

How Ultrasonic Cleaner, TD-100, and AER work.

Tube Drier, Drying Cabinet, Endoscope Cabinet

Machines used only for drying and storage of cleaned devices.

Respiratory tubing, endoscopes, TEE probes, and other reprocessed items

Devices dried using Tube Driers or Drying Cabinets.

Use HEPA-filtered warm air to dry devices post-cleaning. Located in clean areas and cleaned weekly.

How Tube Driers and Drying Cabinets operate.

Micro Sprayer (Spray Booth)

Machine used for manually spraying down large equipment.

Large items like carts, incubators, bedside commodes

Items typically cleaned using a Micro Sprayer.

Handheld nozzle sprays detergent/disinfectant; PPE is required due to aerosol risk.

Cleaning method of a Micro Sprayer.

Manual cleaning

Method used for devices not compatible with machines.

Pre-soak, flush, brush, full submersion (if allowed), rinse, disinfect, rinse again, dry—all according to manufacturer instructions.

Steps involved in manual cleaning.

Washer-Disinfector and Pasteurmatic

Machines that require validation of thermal disinfection equivalent to pasteurization.

Ultrasonic cleaning

Cleaning method that uses cavitation.

TD-100, AER (Automatic Endoscope Reprocessor)

Cleaning method that uses high-level chemical disinfectants.