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I N F E C T I O N
P R E V E N T I O N
"A manufacturer may say, soak the device for 2 to 3 minutes, then
ultrasonic clean it for 5 minutes, then put it in the washer," says
Nancy Chobin, RN, AAS, ACSP, CSPDM, assistant vice president of
sterile processing services for Saint Barnabas Health Care System in
West Orange, N.J., and executive director of the Certification Board
for Sterile Processing and Distribution. "If you don't have a sonic or a
washer, how can you be compliant?"
"When you're considering a purchase, or a company rep is bringing
in a brand-new tray of instruments, first validate that you can sterilize
it," says Rudolph Gonzales, RN, MSN, CNOR, CRCST, CHL, the OR
and central sterile processing manager at the interim Louisiana State
University Public Hospital in New Orleans.
Having the necessary machines, detergents, brushes and other tools
to do the job means knowing ahead of time that items will be coming
in, he says. This demands communication with any departments that
make purchases, vendors' reps, infection preventionists and risk managers.
2. Your techs don't have the instructions.
"People assume that all devices can be cleaned the same way," says
Ms. Chobin. Not true! "You shouldn't attempt to clean anything without first consulting the manufacturers' current instructions for use."
Get written reprocessing directions for every device that moves
through your central sterile department. Updating your files every 2
M A R C H 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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