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S T E R I L I Z A T I O N
containers. Only 2 walk uncovered baskets or trays of instruments to
the OR. Be sure that the manufacturer has validated the container for
typical flash sterilization cycles.
2. Validate cycles. "If the need to flash arises, make sure you add a
biological and read it to prove the contents are sterile prior to use,"
says Ms. Tyre. The recommended practices say that you should use
Class 5 chemical integrating indicators in each container or tray you
flash. These are relatively inexpensive, so taking this extra step means
spending a couple more dollars on each flash to ensure the instruments are effectively sterilized.
3. Maintain a log of all flash cycles. We heard from one SPD manager
who each day would collect the flash logs from each flash sterilizer
and record each item flashed, the parameters that were met and the
reason for the flash process for that item. By reviewing these logs, he
was able to identify the most commonly flashed items — and make
purchases to reduce these incidents. "Logging this information is time
consuming, but it gives a great picture of what is actually going on
daily with flash sterilization," he says. Logging also lets you track the
tray to a patient in the case of a surgical site infection.
4. Clean before you sterilize. Finally, don't shortcut the cleaning
process. Be sure to properly clean, rinse and decontaminate before
you sterilize a rapid-cycle load. "You can't produce a sterile product
when bioburden remains," says Andy Beck, RN, BSN, CAPA, director
of surgical services at Providence Surgery Center in Missoula, Mont.
OSM
E-mail doconnor@outpatientsurgery.net.
D E C E M B E R 2013 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
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