Dr. Weigert leads the way on chemical sustainability
When it comes to reprocessing surgical instruments, there can be no compromise on hygiene – but can we make our industry’s cleaning products and systems environmentally friendly at the same time? Alan Abbatt, Director of Dr. Weigert UK, highlights a new advance which points the way forward.
Dr. Weigert’s neodisher® MediClean advanced has been developed for improved performance and sustainable use in washer disinfectors. Its effectiveness in both respects is based on strong cleaning power and a highly concentrated formulation.
Sustainability issues for cleaning products in this sector relate largely to the consumption of water, materials and energy in their manufacture, packaging, transport, and use. Resulting impacts on the environment include natural resource depletion and – related to energy consumption – climate-changing carbon emissions.
Approaches to reducing environmental impacts
Developers of surgical instrument reprocessing products can address these environmental issues in three main ways:
Increasing the efficiency of cleaning
The stronger action and concentrated nature of MediClean advanced means that less product, water, and energy are needed in the cleaning process. Each wash requires only a very small quantity of the cleaner. The need for extended or repeated washing cycles is also avoided.
In addition, this product can be dosed early, in cold water, immediately after the water intake. By contrast, most detergents have to be added to washers at a higher temperature to prevent foaming and / or cavitation, from adversely affecting the machine’s functions. Cavitation not only diminishes cleaning efficiency but wears and damages the washer.
With this formulation, the risk of exacerbating cavitation is significantly reduced. Better still, by dosing during the first prewash, at ambient temperature, substantial amounts of energy can be saved in the cleaning process.
Outstanding cleaning results with MediClean advanced have been confirmed and documented by numerous tests. Evidence includes testing and confirmation of reduction in biofilms according to ISO/TS 15883-5:2005.
Extending instrument longevity
By extending the usability and longevity of surgical instruments, reprocessing products reduce the need for the procurement of new ones – along with the associated extra material consumption, energy use and emissions. Thanks to its excellent compatibility, MediClean advanced minimises material losses and maintains instrument integrity.
Importantly, it also restores an optimum look and feel to instruments at each wash – further encouraging their extended reuse. Dull deposits are effectively removed, and surfaces emerge with a brilliant shine. Under microscopic examination, the surface quality and preservation of instrument material are clear at every level.
Reducing volume of packaging and transport
By increasing the concentration of a chemical decontamination formula, and reducing the amount needed per wash, environmental benefits are gained in terms of a reduction in the volume of packaging material, frequency of transport and associated CO2 emissions as hospitals need less product.
Extra benefits to hospitals
The powerful, concentrated formulation of neodisher® MediClean advanced is not only beneficial to the environment. It also enables more efficient deployment of hospitals’ human, physical and financial resources.
With less canister changes to make, and smaller volumes, staff are relieved of some of the related time pressure, stress, effort, fatigue, and risk of strain injury aiding improved Occupational Health. Reduced stock levels free up valuable hospital space for other purposes, while expense is saved on order quantities, energy bills and replacement instruments.
neodisher® MediClean advanced in detail
neodisher® MediClean advanced is ideal for automated, manual, and ultrasonic reprocessing of medical instruments and devices – whether thermostable or thermolabile. In automated washer disinfectors, it is typically used to clean items such as MIS (minimally invasive surgical) and micro instruments, anaesthesia equipment, containers, and other pieces of medical hardware.
MediClean advanced is also suitable for manual and automated cleaning of da Vinci EndoWrist instruments and other robot-assisted surgical devices.
Its formula targets and reliably removes residues including dried and denatured blood, protein, fat, mucus, secretions, and bone dust. Its first-rate cleaning performance results from a unique formula based on carefully selected alkalinity donors, tensides, complexing agents and enzymes.
The unique, patented formulation has been rigorously tested for material compatibility and preservation in conjunction with leading instrument manufacturers. It is compatible with instruments and optical systems made from stainless steel (including 1.4301), instrument steel (including 1.4034), titanium, anodised aluminium, glass, ceramics, reprocessable plastics and anaesthesia equipment materials.
A continuing environmental commitment
Work on new products at Dr. Weigert responds to customers’ evolving wishes and special requirements, which its expert advisers aim to identify at an early stage. There has been a clear growth in customer concern around impacts on the environment, which innovations like neodisher® MediClean advanced address.
However, this is by no means a new direction for the company which has a long history of commitment to acting in a sustainable way. Dr. Weigert’s innovation in product and system development continues to go hand in hand with innovation in sustainability.
For further information, visit https://www.drweigert.com/com/products-system-solutions/neodisher-mediclean-advanced or Telephone: 01543 471222.
About Dr Weigert:
Established 100 years ago, Dr Weigert is a world-renowned manufacturer of cleaning and decontamination solutions. Headquartered in Hamburg, their state-of-the-art R & D, production and laboratory facilities services the needs of a constantly changing environment whilst ensuring the company remains focused on their core three principles: quality, performance and innovation.
About the author:
Alan Abbatt has over 22 years’ experience in the cleaning and decontamination industry. He established Dr. Weigert’s UK subsidiary over 14 years ago. As UK Director, his responsibilities include the commercialisation of Dr Weigert’s products (for surgical devices, surfaces and hands) and the coordination and implementation of UK sales strategies.
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