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R E P R O C E S S I N G
4 Work by the book
Never place instruments intended for rapid-cycle sterilization inside the autoclave in an open pan. After that cycle runs, a scrubbed surgical team member would have to grab the instruments and walk them back to the sterile field. This "open sterilization" is a risky and improper practice that dramatically increases contamination risk. Rigid closed containers, on the other hand, are ideal for immediate-use cycles because there's no chance of contamination when staff
removes them from the autoclave for transport to the OR.
Make sure the items you run through immediate-use sterilization are validated for rapid steam cycles. Full orthopedic instrument trays that require extended reprocessing, for example, are never suitable for immediate-use sterilization. Check the autoclave manufacturer's guidelines to ensure you're running the proper cycle at the appropriate temperature for the required time. Immediate-use sterilization is typically achieved with gravity cycles run for about 10 minutes at 270°F, although cycle type depends on the autoclave you use. Also run the appropriate rapid cycle based on guidelines issued by instrument and closed container manufacturers.
5 Validate cycles
Check that immediate-use cycles are properly completed before removing items from the autoclave. Include Class 5 chemical monitors with each item that's run through rapid steam cycles and test autoclaves with biological indicators once a day. Also include biological indicators in the immediate-use sterilization of implants — which should only be flashed in emergent situations. Don't put the implant in the patient until you confirm the results of the biological test, which takes about an hour to complete.
