A
storage practice that recognizes that a package and its contents
should remain sterile until some event causes the item(s) to become
contaminated.
Although some hospitals continue to date every
sterilized product and use the time-related shelf-life practice,
many hospitals have switched to an event-related shelf-life
practice. This latter practice recognizes that the product should
remain sterile until some event causes the item to become
contaminated (e.g., tear in packaging, packaging becomes wet, seal
is broken). Event-related factors that contribute to the
contamination of a product include
bioburden (i.e., the amount of contamination in the
environment), air movement, traffic, location, humidity, insects,
vermin, flooding, storage area space, open/closed shelving,
temperature, and the properties of the wrap material.
There is data that support the event-related
shelf-life practice; one study examined the effect of time on the
sterile integrity of paper envelopes, peel pouches, and nylon
sleeves. The most important finding was the absence of a trend
toward an increased rate of contamination over time for any pack
when placed in covered storage. Another evaluated the effectiveness
of event-related outdating by microbiologically testing sterilized
items. During the 2-year study period, all of the items tested were
sterile. Thus, contamination of a sterile item is event-related and
the probability of contamination increases with increased handling.
See the complete recommendations on
sterilizer and disinfection at www.cdc.gov
“Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare
Facilities, 2008”.
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Autoclave Testing Service, Inc. is one of the first companies
nationwide to offer a
Mail-In sterilizer
monitoring service using biological indicators. Serving the
healthcare industry throughout the United States and Canada since
1986, we have thousands of satisfied customers.
§
We have on-line test results
allowing you to access your results at your convenience! Your
Sterilizer Test Report (STR) is posted
on-line upon completion of
culturing, offering minimum turn-around time.
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We have 24-hour test results for Steam sterilizers!
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We have a comprehensive Glossary of Terms related to the sterile
processing area (scroll below to view the Glossary). This is
invaluable information, assisting you with this important area of
your facility.
ATS, Inc. now
stocks sterilization pouches, sterilizer cleaners, chemical
indicator products, sterilizers (new and used), ultrasonic cleaners,
water distillers, and more! (see
Supplies).
In-Office and Mail-To-Lab Testing!
Verify the sterilization process of all steam
sterilizers which include Statim, Midmark,
Tuttnauer, Lisa, Mocom and Pelton & Crane
sterilizers.
Bowie-Dick Test
Packs should be used daily to evaluate the
performance of air-removal (vacuum) system of
dynamic pre-vacuum type sterilizers. Available
as test cards or preassembled test packs.
Internal CI’s should be used within
each pouch or package, tray, or container. Class 5
Integrators should be used in conjunction with
physical monitoring and biological indicator
testing for verifying the efficacy of a
sterilization system. (See AAMI ST79:2006)
Recordkeeping is a must for all
sterile processing departments. This ensures
accountability and allows operators to trace
errors to their source. Tips on sterilizer
maintenance and technical advice are included with
each book.
