Decontamination and reprocessing of medical devices for health-care facilities

Overview

Following recent threats caused by widespread epidemics and increasing awareness about the spread of antimicrobial resistance, several countries are paying more attention and investing resources to strengthening IPC infrastructures and improving practices. In this context, this manual is a very important instrument to provide guidance to health managers and health workers on required infrastructures and standard procedures for effective sterilization, and decontamination reprocessing of medical devices. This edition of the manual represents a thorough revision and update of the Sterilization Manual for Health Centers issued by the Pan American Health Organization in 2009 and it is the result of a close collaboration between the IPC Global Unit at the Headquarters of the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, and a group on international experts.