Sterilization Instructions

[jtruitt]

I currently have a notebook for sterilization instructions and am in the process of updating. Where can I find manufacturers instructions to update my sterilization instructions? I thought in the past I found them on the IAHSCMM website. Does anyone have a specific site where they can be obtained? I know there are companies that have online instructions but this should be available through IAHSCMM. Thanks for your help!

[rpurvis]

We just finished our updates and it was a royal pain. The best thing to do is just start calling your sales reps and let them do the work for you. Just ask for their current cleaning and sterilizing recommendations and they will get them for you. I think we were able to find one company on the internet and that was it.

[Beth]

We have general surgical trays we build. Is there some specification for such a tray. How do we determine how long to sterilize? I have contacted the vendor of the instruments we are contracted with and all he can give me is for individual instrumentation. Help!

[rpurvis]

The companies we order our basic instruments from: Jarit, Aesculap, V. Mueller, Codman, etc were all the basic 4 minute exposure time. I think Scanlon was like 10 minutes. I hope this helps.

[barry govenor]

Beth,

Dont't be offended but I don't want to assume you may be overlooking tools we all already have. If you are unsure about the length of time needed to "sterilize" a tray, why not run it, break it down and check your indicator ( or preferably, a biological indicator). If you need further data to feel more confident, ask the lab to cooperate and have them culture 2 or 3 sets before you go into "production". The 4 minute 274 degree cycle will cover most sets unless they are extremely bulky (25lbs or more..such as a few of our orthopedic sets). We have switched from a 4 minute cycle to an 18 minute cycle but most likely have much less volume than you do.

Hope this helps.

[rpurvis]

Every basic instrument set that I have ever seen has been sterilized for 4 minutes. We do check indicators and such to gaurantee sterility.

[fkrizman]

couple of comments/questions.
I too am undertaking this process. I have found it best to go to the web site and find the number for customer service. I call the number and state that I am looking for information for the processing of said item. I am usually transfered to someone who is more than helpful.
I do recommend you have them send the info hard copy via mail as I have had difficulty printing/saving the material from e-mail.

As to those that are running extended time loads, are you running all sets on these extended times?

We have some sets with recommended times of 10 minutes but most are only 4 minutes. Are there any draw backs to running an instrument recommended to be ran for 4 minutes for an extended time?

[rpurvis]

We found companies that recommended 4,5,6,8 and 10 minutes. So instead of having 5 different cycles, we are running 5 and 10 minutes cycles.

Like I said on one of my other posts, we contacted our sales rep. and they got all the info we needed.

[pixieduster]

For the 10 minute cycles do you increase the dry time, and the "cracked door" time at all?
My friend works for a hospital that does everything at 10min, dry time 35 and inside with door cracked for 45 minutes. Usually mixed loads of wrapped trays and rigid containers. This to me seems like entirely too long.

[rpurvis]

We kept our dry time at 30 minutes and the time we crack the door at 30 minutes as well. We have only been running the 10 minute cycles for about 2 weeks and so far no wet loads or any other problems.

[chipmoore]

Extended cycle times should not be the cause to change dry times or whether you need to "crack" the door. Most wet pack occur during the preconditioning phase (heat up). Once your sterilizer is in the timing mode during the exposure phase, you should have a saturated steam environment.
Chip Moore
Rochester, NY
Somewhere in western MN

[pixieduster]

Any suggestions on how to gently "suggest" this idea? Thanks!

[barry govenor]

We run all sets at 18 minutes, 25 minute dry time and remove the sets form the autoclave 30 minutes after the door has been "cracked". We have been doing this for about a year and notice no appreciable change in instrument damage.

[fkrizman]

The 45 min cracked door seems like a long time to me too. I attended a conference last year that talked about steam quality and wet loads. They stated that institutions that needed that much dry time may have steam quality problems. He went on to talk about what to look for. Look for insulation missing from around pipes and low areas or dips in the pipe that do not have some type of valvue. Make sure those valvues are functioning and good luck trying to convince your maintenance dept. that there is a problem.

[janicejlo]

I was reading in the Aorn mag. to pull the load as soon as it is done. They said this prevented wetpacks. Any comments on this procedure?

[Rose Seavey]

The certainly could be a concern. Depending on what the instruemtns are made of the additonal exposure time could harm the composition or integrity of the instruments. It is always best to check with the original instrument manufacturer for exposure times.

[pixieduster]

janicejlo: Can you tell me what issue of AORN mag you found that in? Thanks!

[janicejlo]

I believe in the April 2008 issue of AORN mag they changed the cracking of the door on autoclave loads and pulling the load as soon as it is done to prevent wet packs.