M A Y 2 0 1 6 O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T 4 9
instruments, conveyor belt systems and compact washers.
After our instruments are soaked and rinsed, they're loaded into an automatic
washer, which coats the instruments with an enzymatic solution. Again, an
instrument's IFUs must be followed, so the instrument is taken apart properly
and placed into the washer correctly so that all surfaces are exposed to the
solution.
We're in the process of moving to a new facility. For that central sterile area, we
purchased new washers that offer a few new features, including a treated water
system. Since many newer instruments recommend using treated water for a final
rinse to avoid leaving tap water residue behind after drying, washers now use
reverse osmosis to rinse instruments in pure water. While not yet a standard for
decontamination, using treated water for the final rinse is a major trend that's
worth considering.
5. Cleaning confirmation
We perform quality checks on our washers regularly to make sure they're clean-
ing instruments correctly, and also perform cleaning verification tests on our
instruments. Our method relies on identifying adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) on
the surface of the instrument, a compound found in all organic matter. We just
swab a surface of the instrument after cleaning and slide it into a handheld
meter, which tells us in less than a minute whether there's any bioburden on the
surface. You can also use swabs that change color to indicate the presence of
bioburden.
Our decontamination process follows the same national standards set for all
surgical facilities, but giving our techs the right resources, reducing unnecessary
variations in the process and offering regular education helps ensure properly
sterilized instruments are returned to the OR.
OSM
Mr. Daigle (daigle@uchc.edu) is the supervisor of the sterile processing
department at the UConn Medical Center in Farmington, Conn., and
serves as the president of the Connecticut Central Service Association.
