STERILIZATION AND DISINFECTION METHOD FOR MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS ABLE TO BE IMPLEMENTED WITHIN A SHORT TIME WHILE ALSO CONFORMING TO HIGH-LEVEL STERILIZATION CRITERIA, AND A DEVICE THEREFOR

摘要

The present invention relates to a sterilization and disinfection method for medical instruments and to a device employing the same. Provided is a sterilization and disinfection method for medical instruments, comprising: a solution-preparing step in which a solution is prepared that contains chlorine and has a water temperature of no less than 60°C; a medical-instrument placing step in which electrodes are disposed in a container filled with the solution, and a medical instrument to be disinfected is soaked in the solution and is placed above the electrode; and a sterilization and disinfection step in which a current is applied to the electrodes so as to subject the solution to electrolysis and so generate residual chlorine (free chlorine), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), OH radical and ozone (O₃) components which are comprised in the solution, thereby sterilizing and disinfecting the medical instrument by means of the components which move from the electrodes in the direction opposite to gravity, wherein the majority of mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae can be sterilised and destroyed within a short time of between 2 and 3 minutes by modifying the cell walls in the tough lipid layer by maintaining a salt solution that contains residual chlorine such as hypochlorous acid or the like of high sterilizing power at no less than 66.9°C and at the same time using the residual chlorine in the hypochlorous acid or the like as well as the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), OH radicals and ozone (O₃) which are generated on subjecting the solution containing chlorine to electrolysis, and by allowing the residual chlorine in the hypochlorous acid or the like generated inside salt water as well as the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), OH radicals and ozone (O₃) components to pierce the cell walls and penetrate to the inside. Also provided is a device employing the method.