Disinfection and sterilization: Current issues, new research, and new technology.

BACKGROUND

Disinfection and sterilization play a pivotal role in protecting patients from health care-associated infections. Numerous studies have highlighted the significant role of environmental surfaces and reusable medical devices (eg, endoscopes) in the transmission of health care pathogens.

METHODS

We searched published literature for articles that will appreciably improve the disinfection and sterilization knowledge base and practices.

RESULTS

The increased emphasis on infection from environmental surfaces and reusable medical devices has driven research and innovations in disinfectant formulations and usages (eg, chlorine dioxide), decontamination (eg, far ultraviolet-C) and sterilization (eg, endoscope) technologies.

CONCLUSIONS

In general, these advancements via guidelines, research, and technology, which guide appropriate use of disinfectants and sterilization technologies and offer promising solutions to minimize patient risk by increasing the margin of safety with medical device reprocessing and surface decontamination by automation, sterilization, or environmental control.