Effectiveness of Autoclaving and Chemical Disinfection in Decontaminating Reusable Surgical Instruments in District Hospitals in Sokoto State

The safe reprocessing of reusable surgical instruments through validated sterilization and disinfection procedures is fundamental to preventing surgical site infections and cross-transmission of bloodborne pathogens. This study evaluated the effectiveness of autoclaving and chemical disinfection practices in decontaminating reusable surgical instruments at four district hospitals in Sokoto State, North West Nigeria. Instruments were sampled at three stages: post-use before decontamination, after chemical disinfection with glutaraldehyde or chlorine-based solutions, and after autoclaving. Samples were taken by swabbing and rinsate technique and cultured on blood agar and enrichment broth. Spore strip biological indicators were used to validate autoclave function. Results showed that post-disinfection swabs yielded microbial growth in 42.5 percent of instrument samples, indicating inadequate chemical decontamination efficacy. Post-autoclave cultures were positive in 15 percent of samples, with positive biological indicator results in two of four autoclaves indicating functional failures. Frequently isolated post-process organisms included Bacillus spores, coagulase-negative Staphylococci, and environmental fungi. Equipment age, incorrect disinfectant concentration, and inadequate contact time were primary failure causes. These findings reveal critical sterilization practice failures in Sokoto State district hospitals with direct implications for surgical patient safety, and highlight the need for autoclave validation programs, standardized chemical disinfection protocols, and routine biological monitoring. Keywords: surgical instrument sterilization, autoclaving, chemical disinfection, Sokoto State, surgical safety.