OR Manager August 2023 - 27

Sterilization & Infection Prevention
Outside items, such as cell phones
and purses, should not be permitted
into the sterile storage area unless they
have undergone cleaning and disinfection.
If badge lanyards are worn, they
should be placed in a pocket or contained
in some manner to avoid catching
them on the shelving or packaging.
Lanyards should also be cleaned and
disinfected on a routine basis so they
do not contaminate sterile items.
Purchased items should be removed
from their shipping containers in the
breakout room in a manner that will
protect their integrity. As previously addressed,
external shipping containers
and corrugated boxes should not be
brought into the sterile storage area.
When multiple sterile items are removed
from boxes to transport to sterile storage,
they should be loaded onto a cart.
Transporting items by cart is easier
and safer
or other damage. Do not stack sterile
packages unless specifically stated in
the item and packaging manufacturers'
instructions for use. Consider packages
that come in contact with the floor for
any period of time to be contaminated,
and discard or reprocess them as appropriate.
be
gently removed. The shelves should
be cleaned and completely dried before
gently returning the items. Shelf cleaning
should be documented.
than hand carrying numerous
items. Items should be placed on
the cart loosely and securely to protect
contents. Items should not hang off the
edges of the cart. The bottom shelf of
the cart should be solid to protect the
items from dirt and dust contamination.
The transport cart should be cleaned
when soiled and placed on a routine
cleaning schedule.
Some purchased sterile supplies are
packaged in shelf boxes designed to be
placed in clean or sterile storage areas.
Each shelf box can contain one or multiple
items. Because they are packaged
inside exterior shipping boxes, they are
not exposed to exterior conditions. It
is important to remove the shelf box
from the outer shipping carton in the
breakout area and place it on the sterile
storage shelf. This practice provides
extra protection for the sterile package
and reduces the handling of the sterile
items, especially if the shelf box contains
multiple items.
Items should be placed in the correct
location to prevent unnecessary
handling, and sterile packages must
be handled gently to prevent crushing
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Sterile items
should be stored
to protect against
contamination and
allow for adequate
air circulation.
High-touch objects and surfaces,
such as handles, doorknobs, and computer
keyboards, should be identified.
Policies and procedures should be in
place to have these surfaces cleaned
and disinfected at least daily. This reduces
the contamination of environmental
surfaces that are touched frequently.
If items are not properly protected
or something unexpectedly happens,
stored items may become contaminated.
Providing the appropriate sterile
storage environment and training personnel
about proper handling and other
essential sterile storage practices is critical
for ensuring that the items remain
sterile and ready for patient care. ORM
-Susan Klacik, BS, FCS,
ACE, CHL, CIS, CRCST,
AAMIF, is clinical educator
at Healthcare Sterile Processing
Association (HSPA)
Processes to maintain
cleanliness
To maintain the sterile integrity of the
packages, it is important to keep the
sterile storage area clean, dry, and free
of dust and debris. The floors should
be damp mopped at least daily and
when soiled. Dry mopping is not recommended
because it results in dust getting
into the air currents and then being
deposited onto surfaces, including packages.
Trash should be emptied at least
daily and whenever trash bins are full.
Walls and vents should also be on a
routine cleaning schedule. Standards for
environmental cleaning should be the
same as those for the operating room.
Shelves, storage bins, and transport
carts in sterile storage should undergo
routine cleaning at a frequency determined
by the facility. Before shelves
are cleaned, sterile packages should
and its representative to the Association
of the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation
(AAMI). Klacik has authored
numerous articles and represents IAHCSMM
for regulatory affairs dealing with
sterilization and disinfection.
Resources
Association for the Advancement of
Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).
ANSI/AAMI ST79:2017 & 2020
Amendments A1, A2, A3, A4 (Consolidated
Text). Comprehensive
guide to steam sterilization and
sterility assurance in health care
facilities.
Association of periOperative Registered
Nurses (AORN). " Guideline for
Sterilization. " Guidelines for Perioperative
Practice. 2023.
Healthcare Sterile Processing Association
(HSPA). Sterile Processing
Technical Manual. 9th ed. Chicago:
HSPA. 2023.
OR Manager | August 2023 27
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OR Manager August 2023

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