OBJECTIVE:
Understanding the sterilization process of critical items used in commercial establishments that offer the services of manicures and pedicure to the public.
METHODS:
Cross-sectional study with 90 employees exercising the function of manicure and pedicure in commercial establishments. The research instrument was a questionnaire with open and closed questions about the knowledge and procedures related to disinfection and sterilization of instruments.
RESULTS:
The mean age was 33.8 years, 72 % had taken vocational courses and had professional experience of more than five years. The use of hot air oven was prevalent in 84.3 % of establishments and 65.7 % reported opening the oven during sterilization. The relation between the higher cost of the service and the use of autoclave was statistically significant (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION:
The sterilization process of the instruments used in the studied commercial establishments that offer services of manicures and pedicure to the public have significant deficiencies related to cleaning and sterilization of instruments.
Public health nursing; Sterilization/methods; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis C virus; Beauty and aesthetic centers