What should precede the sterilization of minor surgical instruments?

Before sterilizing minor surgical instruments, it is essential to properly clean them. Cleaning with soapy water removes blood, tissue, and other debris that can harbor bacteria. This step is crucial because if instruments are not thoroughly cleaned, any remaining organic material can prevent sterilization from being effective. It is important to ensure that the instruments are free of all contaminants before moving on to the sterilization process. This ensures that the sterilization method—whether it be steam, chemical, or another method—can effectively destroy any remaining microorganisms.

While drying instruments with heat or rinsing them with alcohol may seem beneficial, they do not replace the need for proper cleaning. Sterilizing with steam is also a subsequent step that requires the instruments to be clean beforehand. Thus, the cleaning process with soapy water is a vital prerequisite for successful sterilization.