Dirty instruments

I am what I thing OCD when it comes to clean. If I do not use a disposable, then the item is soaked in a bleach and water solution, sometimes so strong that it effects the item being sterilized. Then washed in anti bacterial soap. Sprayed with Cavacide, then depending, a trip to the dishwasher.

No one so far had ever had a problem.

Unless you Have an autoclave or some other method. You’re not sterile. Clean maybe, but not sterile.

As I've said before if you are a play doctor meeting with multiple patients then just use disposable sterile packed speculums, that way you know they are clean and the woman knows its not been used before. You can get good quality metal or plastic ones from medical suppliers. Some women have their own favourite speculum(s) and like them to be used during a play exam, that can be good practice.

I am what I thing OCD when it comes to clean. If I do not use a disposable, then the item is soaked in a bleach and water solution, sometimes so strong that it effects the item being sterilized. Then washed in anti bacterial soap. Sprayed with Cavacide, then depending, a trip to the dishwasher.

No one so far had ever had a problem.

You're lucky then. You are backwards.

Clean first then sterilize. Dirty equipment essentially cannot be made sterile in most cases (and in all cases where you are using a chemical bath).

Clean it (use regular soap, antibacterial is generally useless), then ideally bag and autoclave. Cold sterile is a distant second, but if you have to then use a proven solution and follow contact times explicitly. Then make sure it is properly bagged.

I went to a GI specialist last year. He did a DRE as I lay on my side, then used a small metal instrument to look inside my rectum, a sort of spreader that opens the anus when squeezed. A 3 prong speculum is what a Google search says. When he finished I heard him drop it in some container below him.

Afterward we sat and he made some notes and I glanced toward the exam table and noticed the container underneath where he put the speculum. It had a lot of used speculums in it, at least 15 or so. My first thought was, Well a lot of people have had a metal tool up their asses this morning. Second thought was, I hope those get sterilized soon.

I trust that the instruments are spotless. They usually are.