Abstract: The decontamination of medical instruments renders their use safe both for patients and the medical staff and, hence, is an essential element in preventing the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HAI). The extent of decontamination depends on the level of microbiological purity required, ranging from the destruction of only vegetative forms of microbial organisms (bacteria, fungi) and viruses up to the elimination of spores. Disinfection procedures involve the use of chemical and/or thermal/thermo-chemical methods. Nevertheless, the required level of effectiveness of instrument disinfection should be determined by assessing the risk of transmission of microorganisms via the instruments. A number of factors can affect the disinfection process, although in order to ensure that a given substance works within a specific required range, the disinfectant needs to be tested according to the European standards included in the PN-EN 14885 superordinate norm. Normative tests allow for an effective and unambiguous comparison of disinfection products, as well as for the selection of a product with the proper range in a given medical area.

Key words: European standards, disinfection, infection prevention, medical instruments