Preventing Infection 527
High-level disinfection: 3 steps
Steps 1 and 2 should be done right after using your tools. Try not to let blood and
mucus dry on them. Step 3 should be done right before you use the tools again. All
the steps can be done together if you can store your tools so they will stay disinfected
(see the next page).
1. Soaking: Soak your tools for 10 minutes. If possible, use a
0.5% solution of bleach (chlorine). Soaking your tools in bleach
solution first will help protect you from infection when cleaning
the tools. If you do not have bleach, soak your tools in water.
How to make a disinfecting solution of 0.5% bleach:
If your bleach says:
Use:
2% available chlorine
5% available chlorine
10% available chlorine
15% available chlorine
1 part bleach to 3 parts water
1 part bleach to 9 parts water
1 part bleach to 19 parts water
1 part bleach to 29 parts water
For example:
If your bleach says 5%
available chlorine, use
this much bleach:
and this much
water :
Mix just enough solution for one day. Do not use it again the next day.
It will not be strong enough to kill germs anymore.
2. Washing: Wash all tools with soapy water and a brush until
each one looks very clean, and rinse them with clean water.
Be careful not to cut yourself on sharp edges or points. If
possible, use heavy gloves, or any gloves you may have.
3. Disinfecting: Steam or boil the tools for 20 minutes (as long as it takes to cook rice).
To steam them, you need a pot
with a lid. The water does not need
to cover the tools, but use enough
water to keep steam coming out the
sides of the lid for 20 minutes.
To boil them, you do not need to fill the whole pot with water.
But you should make sure water covers everything in the pot the
entire time. If possible, put a lid on the pot.
For both steaming and boiling, start to count the 20 minutes after the water is
fully boiling. Do not add anything new to the pot once you begin to count.
IMPORTANT Never use a tool on more than one person
without washing and disinfecting all the parts between each use.
Where Women Have No Doctor  2012