What should be done after cleaning instruments to maintain sterility?

Study for the Sterile Processing Technician Exam. Review flashcards and multiple choice questions, with hints and explanations for each question. Prepare for your certification exam!

After cleaning instruments, the most critical step to maintain sterility is to immediately sterilize them. This process ensures that any remaining microorganisms are killed before the instruments are stored. The window of time between cleaning and sterilization is crucial because, if instruments are not sterilized right away, they can become re-contaminated due to exposure to the environment, surfaces, or contact with non-sterile items.

Sterilization methods, such as autoclaving, effectively eliminate potential pathogens, rendering the instruments safe for surgical or medical use. This is vital in maintaining a sterile technique and preventing infections during procedures.

While drying with high heat may help in some situations, it doesn't address the need to sterilize the instruments before they can be deemed safe for use. Storing instruments in an unwrapped state can leave them vulnerable to contamination, and sealing them in a clean container, while a good practice for storage, does not replace the necessity of sterilization after cleaning. Thus, immediate sterilization is the best option to ensure instruments remain sterile.

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