Decontamination is the term used to describe a combination of processes, including cleaning, disinfection and/or sterilization, used to make a re-usable item safe for further use. The effective decontamination of re-usable surgical instruments and clinical devices used in direct contact with tissues is essential in minimising the risk of transferring microorganisms or other contaminants which might lead to infection or other harmful response.
Medical Devices are all the products, except drugs, used in health care for diagnosis, prevention, monitoring or treatment. The list is enormous, ranging from tonometers and slit lamps, through surgical instruments to hospital beds and MRI scanners. This document will concentrate on products which are particularly important to, or specific for, ophthalmology.