Te Ratonga Whakahoromata Taputapu o Aotearoa
| Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I source a copy of the Sterilisation Standards? Relevant Standards for those involved in decontamination and sterilization in both hospitals and office-based practice are as follows: Hospitals: Office-based facilities: Copies of current Standards are available from:
Telephone: (04) 498 5990, Facsimile: (04) 498 5994, How should instruments be presented for sterilization?
AS/NZS 4187:2003 states in 3.4 Specific Packaging and Wrapping Requirements, Clause 3.4.1 Instruments (Page 28) the following: Instruments with hinges or ratchets shall remain open and unlocked. Consultation shall take place with end users regarding the presentation of instruments for sterilization. For ease of handling after sterilization, instruments in the open and unlocked position may be placed on specially designed instrument holders, in required order, as prescribed by the end user. Multiple-part instruments for sterilization shall be disassembled or sufficiently loosened prior to packaging to permit the sterilizing agent to come into contact with all parts of the instrument. Instrument sets should be packaged in a manner that prevents damage to delicate items. Trays used for packaging instrument sets should be perforated to allow for penetration of the sterilizing agent and efficient drying. Note: Recent audits in both Australia and New Zealand have revealed that instruments supposedly closed to 1st ratchet position only for sterilization have been closed to 2nd, 3rd and 4th ratchet position. How should hollowware be packaged? Hollowware sets shall be packaged so that all openings face the same direction and so that the contents cannot move inside the pack. Non-porous spacers shall be used to separate hollowware when nested. Clause 3.4.3.3 Flexible packaging materials also states: Hazards exist in the use of flexible packaging materials such as laminated pouches. Hollowware items such as gallipots may entrap condensate in the gusset or against the plastic surface of the pack when laid flat, thus defeating the sterilizing process. This form of packaging is best positioned on its side to allow egress of air or condensate and ingress of the sterilizing agent. Hollowware should be placed with the opening against the paper and not the plastic. Note: Non porous spacers are not linen guards, single use tray liners or non woven wrapping material, which are all porous items. It should be noted that some autoclavable plastic ware is designed with spacers built in, therefore no additional spacer is required. Do we really need to clean instruments
on loan prior to use? On receipt into the health care facility, instruments on loan (loan instruments), including loan sets, instruments from other health care facilities and individual clinicians, shall undergo a complete routine cleaning and processing prior to sterilization by the wrapped method. Perceived lack of time shall not permit the cleaning process to be bypassed. If soil and debris are found to be present on receipt of the instruments on loan, the condition of the instruments shall be reported to the supplier. Following use, all instruments on loan shall be subjected to the full cleaning process and sterilized before being returned to their source. Note: Some semi-critical and non-critical loan items, e.g. gastroscopes, may require disinfection only. However, advice should be sought from the instrument supplier as to the process to be used prior to return. |