wrap over the course of many years.
The bottom line is this: A price is only
as good as the product itself, its
implementation and the people who
oversee those procedures.
Maintaining sterility
While all of these points are matters of efficiency, the real argument is
one of safety. A study conducted by Harry Shaffer, MS, and published
in the December 2015 American Journal of Infection Control
(osmag.net/xvok6b) found sterilization wrap provided greater protec-
tion against airborne bacterial ingress, compared with rigid contain-
ers. The study, which was funded by Halyard Health, found bacterial
contamination in 87% of rigid containers, some of which had never
even been used. Of 161 wrapped trays tested, none demonstrated bac-
terial ingress into the tray.
In the study, Dr. Shaffer calls rigid containers "complex devices with
multiple seals and filters held by retention plates or valves that can be
damaged, and demonstrate loss of performance with age and use. Our
results indicate that the barrier efficacy of rigid containers may dimin-
ish over time."
Peace of mind
If all this makes you wonder whether selecting sterile wrap is simply a
matter of choosing the lesser of two evils, that's not the case. The point
is not that sealed containers are a poor choice and sterile wrap barely
edges out the alternative. Sterile wrap is an asset all on its own — as
long as it's handled correctly. Yes, rips and tears are an issue, but they
often happen while a tray is in transport. And while there are hundreds
of transport carriers on the market, we chose the one that makes it so
1 0 8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J a n u a r y 2 0 1 7
Of 161 wrapped trays
tested, none allowed
bacterial ingress
into the tray.
