What is the recommended first step in the cleaning process of surgical instruments?

The recommended first step in the cleaning process of surgical instruments is soaking in a cleaning solution. Soaking helps to loosen and dissolve blood, tissue, and other contaminants from the instruments' surfaces. This initial step is vital because it prepares the instruments for more thorough cleaning methods that follow.

When instruments are immersed in a cleaning solution, the solution penetrates the debris, which facilitates easier removal during subsequent cleaning processes. The soaking step also helps prevent the drying of bioburden, which can make removal much more difficult later.

While rinsing with water may help in some contexts, it does not effectively remove residues like a dedicated cleaning solution would. Manual scrubbing is an essential step as well, but it is generally performed after soaking to ensure that the debris has been sufficiently loosened. Similarly, ultrasonic cleaning is an advanced method that utilizes sound waves to remove contaminants but typically occurs after soaking has taken place to maximize its effectiveness.