Elmed

FEBRUARY 11, 2022

Improper or inadequate decontamination, cleaning and sterilization of surgical instruments continues to be a major source of patient harm that is preventable through proper practice and adherence to manufacturers’ instructions for use (IFUs). The problem of contaminated instruments being returned to the O.R. 1 and Sept.

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Surgical Instruments Sterile Laboratory Test In-Procedure 40

Elmed

APRIL 21, 2021

In an earlier blog we examined the report on a Denver hospital that had a large outbreak of contaminated surgical instruments (Elmed blog 47, March 10, 2021). A trail of evidence points to improper instrument cleaning practices and the hidden menace known as biofilm.” after reprocessing.1 after reprocessing.1

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Surgical Instruments Sterile Laboratory Test Surgical Site 40

Elmed

JANUARY 11, 2022

Over the past year there has been a lot of increased emphasis and attention placed on pre-cleaning surgical instruments at the point of use prior to transport to sterile reprocessing. A recent post on the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) members’ discussion board from an O.R.

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Surgical Instruments Sterile Laboratory Test Safety 40

Elmed

MARCH 10, 2021

On May 10, 2018 Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver, Colorado had to cancel all surgeries for a week due to contaminated surgical instruments being found in the O.R. This was not a unique situation, but rather another case in a long line of reported cases of contaminated instruments being returned to the O.R. after reprocessing.

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Hospital Surgery Surgical Instruments Sterile 40