What is the main purpose of using a high level disinfectant?

The primary objective of using a high-level disinfectant is to achieve high-level disinfection of instruments. High-level disinfection is an essential process in healthcare settings, particularly with flexible endoscopy instruments, as it effectively eliminates most microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and some fungi, from devices that come into contact with mucous membranes. This ensures patient safety by significantly reducing the risk of infection during medical procedures.

High-level disinfectants are specifically formulated to inactivate resistant pathogens that may not be effectively addressed by lower-level disinfectants. This makes them critical in environments where equipment needs to be adequately sanitized to prevent the transmission of infectious agents. Choosing high-level disinfection is vital when instruments cannot be sterilized but still require thorough disinfection to ensure safe use on patients.