Viability of Biological Material Found in Sterilized Surgical Instrument Trays

Abstract

Viability of microorganisms left in surgical instrument trays after use is a challenging topic to observe. The following paper outlines a study conducted that reviewed two main components of the Sterile Processing Department (SPD). Two of the main machines used through the SPD department are the washer-disinfector and steam sterilizer. The experiment conducted looked at the process breakdown or breach in protocol that can occur. Biological contaminants can be found from a previous case in the Operating Room (OR) prior to use on the subsequent case. To examine the viability of these contaminants biological material was run through the two machines outlined above (automated washer and steam sterilizer). The results showed that all samples that were run through these machines yielded no biological growth on aerobic, anaerobic, and yeast medium plates. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the washer-disinfector and steam sterilizer. High heat in combination with physical impediment denatured the protein structure of the microorganisms rendering them unviable. A breach in protocol can occur for a number of reasons and the reporting of these incidents play a pivotal role in developing solutions and identifying trends. A positive culture can lend itself to improved reporting, which as a result can help identify issues related to failures in procedure. The disruption these failures can have in cost and decision making can be impactful. Reducing reprocessing cost and the impact on labor cost can have future implications leading to improved practices for the sterile processing department.