New Course Grid

Positive biological indicators (BI) set in motion the recall of all medical devices processed since the last negative BI, an analysis of what caused the failure, correction of those causes, and retesting of the sterilizer before it is put back into routine use.

Has a new loaner tray ever given you pause because of its size, complexity, or density? Concerned about processing a new brand of container in your facility’s older sterilizers?

Reprocessing is the science and practice of preparing instruments and devices for use and reuse in patient care.

Sterile Processing is often regarded as the “front line” for fighting infections. Following proper protocols and standards is critical if we are to win that fight. 

How do we bridge the gap between the required procedures in our industries and helping our Sterile Processing staff apply them effectively? 

We’ll take a closer look at how BIs work, and how you should use them to make sure your sterilization processes are working correctly.

Proper sterilization of surgical instruments is critical to infection prevention and patient safety. The sterilization process breaks the chain of infection by preventing transmission of pathogens between patients. Hospitals today can choose between different sterilization processes to accommodate the broad array of medical device designs and materials. Rigorous sterilization quality control programs help ensure that the devices are safe and ready for patient use. 

The sterile processing team must rely on a comprehensive quality system approach to ensure that instruments are safe and ready for use on patients.