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S T E R I L I Z A T I O N
they'll need. The heat of a long cycle would destroy the tonometer, "so
we flash it in a closed container and carry it into the room," says
Imelda Kelly, RN, the director of regulatory compliance at the Barnet
Dulaney Perkins Eye Center in Phoenix, Ariz.
Flashing done right
As the saying goes, if you're going to flash, do so safely. Here are 4
pieces of advice for doing so.
1. Use a closed container approved for flashing. When you do flash, recommended practices say that you should use closed rigid sterilization
containers designed for flash sterilization cycles, as opposed to open
trays. The containers can reduce the risk of contamination when staff
brings the instruments to the point of use by keeping them protected
and sealed. "If you
have to flash sterilize,
use a sterilization
container," says
Connie Cecil, RN,
BSN, CNOR, surgical
services director at
Dearborn County
Hospital in
Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Ms. Cecil is not alone:
16 of the 18 facility
leaders we surveyed
transport flash-sterilized items from the
autoclave to the OR
in flash sterilization
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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 | D E C E M B E R 2013
