Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.
Issue link: http://outpatientsurgery.uberflip.com/i/291534
8 9 A P R I L 2 0 1 4 | O U T P AT 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 will corrode a stainless steel surface. It doesn't take long. Surgical residue can easily mark or stain an instrument, especially if it's allowed to dry. This damage is preventable if OR staff conduct point of use pre-cleaning throughout and immediately after each case. As instruments are used, wip- ing their surfaces and flushing their lumens with sterile water will remove debris before it has a chance to dry. Nurses and techs can also S T E R I L E P R O C E S S I N G S tainless steel, an alloy made from steel, nickel and chromium in varying proportions, rarely rusts but without proper care it can suffer the following types of damage. • Marking. Visible deposits or "water spots" that remain on instrument surfaces after cleaning. Can be wiped off with mini- mal friction. Often the result of high mineral content in the water and/or autoclave steam. To prevent, monitor water quality and implement a treatment system, or rinse after cleaning with distilled or de-ionized water and towel dry immediately, never air-drying. • Staining. A surface discoloration result- ing from inadequate soil removal, improper cleaning practices or a chemical reaction during sterilization. To remove, try elbow grease or soak in solution. • Corrosion. Often seen as miniscule pits penetrating the surface of a stainless steel instrument. Results from chemical reactions with organic bioburden or chloride com- pounds such as saline or bleach. Since cor- rosion provides an unreachable hiding place for infectious bacteria, pitted instruments must be discarded. — David Bernard INSTRUMENT INFRACTIONS The Damage That's Done SPRAY N' WASH Spraying used trays with enzymatic cleaner immediately after use helps prevent damage. Inspect instruments before returning them to service. OSE_1404_part2_Layout 1 4/4/14 2:40 PM Page 89