Body Piercing Advice and Safe Practice - Charnwood Borough ...

What do I need to do to ensure safe
treatment at my premises? (e)
I’m bombarded with information on cleaning
detergents, disinfectants and sterilants.
What do these terms mean?
The cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of equipment or surfaces are essential for making
treatments safe. Without these steps, microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses can
cause infection in your clients, or may infect you.
■ Cleaning is a process that physically removes contamination, including some
microorganisms, but does not necessarily destroy all microorganisms, even if a surface looks
cleaner. Cleaning of equipment and work surfaces is best done using detergent and warm
water. It’s also important to ensure that the product you use will not damage your equipment
and work surfaces, as some cleaning products can cause scratching or corrosion of certain
surfaces
❏
Ultrasonication is a liquid-based method of cleaning recommended for some
equipment that are in close contact with the client’s skin and may become soiled, e.g.
clamps and tweezers. Ultrasonication is performed in a lidded tank and can even clean
apertures and recesses, such as serrated surfaces. The tank of the ultrasonic cleaner
should be cleaned twice a day as a minimum requirement, and kept clean and dry
overnight.
■
■
Disinfection reduces the number of live microorganisms but may not necessarily kill all
bacteria, fungi, viruses and spores. Disinfection is therefore not the same as sterilization
(below). Prior cleaning is required before disinfection can be reliable, as any soiling of a
surface (e.g. grease, ink, blood) can reduce the effectiveness of the disinfectant.
Disinfection is not sufficient for preparing invasive items e.g. jewellery, prior to insertion, and
such items must be sterile at first use (see definition on page 8);
Sterilization kills all microorganisms, including bacterial and fungal spores that may
survive disinfection treatments. Steam sterilization is the preferred method of sterilizing
equipment as it is quick, automated, easy to use, reliable, non-toxic and always
effective when used correctly. It is particularly suitable for re-used metal items such
clamps andtweezers, so long as these parts have been previously cleaned. UV light
boxes and glassbead sterilizers are not regarded as adequate for sterilization and
should not be used; and
Cont
7 Body Piercing / Guidance for operators