3 4 S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E M A Y 2 0 1 5
Physicians in Oklahoma City. "Often this step of cleaning is shortchanged in the
hurry to flash-sterilize, and transmission of infections as a result of improper
flash sterilization is well known and documented."
It's not the act of IUSS itself, but what does — and doesn't — happen before
and after you place items in the autoclave that's given the practice formerly
known as flashing its rogue and risky reputation. Some feel that reputation is
well-deserved, like the industry veteran who visits dozens of mostly ophthalmic
ORs a month and often cringes at what she spies in the decontam room.
She sees some facilities open 1 or 2 trays and flash them all day long, either
because they only have 1 or 2 trays or because they think it's okay to routinely
flash your instruments. She sees some all but bypass manual and mechanical
cleaning when they flash, dipping an instrument in the dishwater as though they
were rinsing a coffee cup before placing it right in the autoclave. And she sees
