How should a glass suction bottle be prepared for reuse?

How should a glass suction bottle be prepared for reuse?

• A. Washed with soap and water and air dried
• B. Rinsed with plain water and reused
• C. Cleaned with a disinfectant solution and autoclaved before reuse
• D. Discarded after one use

Answer: (C)

Proper reuse relies on achieving sterility between patients. A glass suction bottle should first be cleaned to remove residue, then treated with a disinfectant solution to lower the microbial load, and finally sterilized in an autoclave. Autoclaving uses steam under pressure to kill spores and other hardy organisms, ensuring the item is sterile before its next use. Cleaning with soap and water alone or just rinsing with plain water does not ensure sterility, and discarding after one use isn’t necessary when a safe sterilization step is available.

Proper reuse relies on achieving sterility between patients. A glass suction bottle should first be cleaned to remove residue, then treated with a disinfectant solution to lower the microbial load, and finally sterilized in an autoclave. Autoclaving uses steam under pressure to kill spores and other hardy organisms, ensuring the item is sterile before its next use. Cleaning with soap and water alone or just rinsing with plain water does not ensure sterility, and discarding after one use isn’t necessary when a safe sterilization step is available.