PRODUCT & SERVICE LINE REPORTS PRODUCT & SERVICE LINE REPORTS


Controlling the complexities of decontamination and cleaning


by Kara Nadeau Photo credit: vegefox.com | stock.adobe.com S


afe and effective reprocessing of surgical instruments and devices is a series of events involving multiple stakeholders


each doing their part in accordance with the item’s instructions for use (IFU). In the February 2022 issue of Healthcare Purchasing News, we highlighted challenges and best practices for point of use cleaning/pretreat- ment in the operating room (OR) and other procedural areas.


In this article, we turn to the Central


Service/Sterile Processing & Distribution (CS/SPD) department, the complexities around decontamination and cleaning, and recommendations on how to make these processes more effective, effi cient and safer.


Educating your team CS/SPD department staff members can only clean items correctly and safely if they have the knowledge to do so.


“[CS/SPD technicians need] education and training, but not just training on the ‘motions’ of reprocessing, also the ‘why,’” said Eric S. Smith, CFER, Infection Prevention & Control Specialist, Medical & Scientific Affairs, Olympus Corporation of the Americas. “Why we do what we do is key to fully understanding the importance of the process.” “I would recom-


mend reading all 190 pages of ANSI/ AAMI ST91:20211 released in early March and discuss- ing the updates with your SPD teams,” Smith added. “Also keep in mind, these recommendations just came out and change doesn’t happen overnight. Evaluate your cur- rent processes and see where and what changes should be implemented first


and continue to improve your processes to meet these recommendations.”


Confronting complexity Instruments and devices range from the simple to the increasingly complex and challenging to clean. CS/SPD technicians must be well versed on the manufacturer IFUs for the entire continuum of items that pass through their hands.


“As medical devices are evolving, so are their reprocessing instructions, pushing our sterile processing departments to become more robust and innovative to support these high-tech designs,” said Randalyn Walters, Clinical Manager/Educator, Belimed. “Surgical instruments that are received in the decontamination area face a multitude of cleaning steps, from manual soaking, to intricate brushing techniques, fl ushing with pressuried water, as well as pressuried air. he steps required to properly manual pre-clean a medical device takes skill, patience, and the proper clean- ing tools.”


One critical piece of equipment required


for effective and effi cient decontamination is an appropriate reprocessing sink, says Walters. Because decontamina- tion is a labor intensive and time- consuming process, the sink should have features that allow for both safe cleaning and the ergonomic safety of CS/SPD staff.


“Allowing for a height adjustable, compliance approved basin sink, with adjustable levers, as well as attachments for fl ushing, rinsing and pressuried air for drying, really helps the technicians,” said Walters. “There should also be counter space available to use before the soaking period, as well as during the sorting and organi- ation phase.


To help make the cleaning


Olympus ChanlDry Endoscope Drying Cabinet


(AAMI makes recommended


changes in drying time in the new ST:91 guidelines.)


workfl ow easier and more effi - cient for reprocessing staff, Walters also recommends equip- ment that eliminates the burden of manual fl ushing with syringes.


22 May 2022 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • hpnonline.com


Belimed Ultrasonic 565 Plus with Improved Cannulated Flushing


his could be a pressuried fl ushing system or properly sied attachments for mechani- cal means such as an ultrasonic machine. “Having one of these options takes the burden off technicians completing this process by hand,” said Walters. “An IFU can recommend a particular PSI require- ment that cannot be achieved by means of syringes. tiliing the fl ush ports and hookup accessories for your mechanical washers and ultrasonic machines can save the technicians time and energy while try- ing to fl ush cannulas or lumens. To clear up confusion around selecting the proper validated cycle through the mechanical washer disinfector based on a manufacturer’s IFU, Walters recommends the use of washer racks with color coated handles, or some means of labeling, stating: “This can help departments identify what


trays they would like to process together. It allows staff members to continue mov- ing through their workfl ow, while trays are placed on their corresponding racks, dedicated to particular cycles.”


Getting back to basics “As simple as this sounds, I’ve recently spent time reintroducing and training on enymatic soaking in decontamina- tion,” said John Kimsey, VP Operations, Instrument Processing, STERIS. “In our work with multiple hospitals throughout the nation, it has become common to fi nd technicians who immediately start to fl ush, brush and clean instruments at the begin- ning of the enymatic soak.


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