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The Importance Of Pre-Cleaning Instruments At Point Of Use (Part I)

Elmed

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. This new, increased emphasis on pre-cleaning is important to you, your facility and most importantly, to your patients and their safety. Section 7.3

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PATIENT HARM CAUSED BY IMPROPER/INADEQUATE INTRUMENT REPROCESSING

Elmed

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). by placing the contaminated instruments into sterile water or an approved enzymatic detergent.

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Hospital Forced To Cancel Surgeries For A Week Due to Contaminated Instruments

Elmed

While this happened a few years ago, it is a great example of the incredible importance of pre-cleaning at point of use, proper decontamination and thorough cleaning of surgical instruments during reprocessing and prior to sterilization. The hospital said it identified a gap in the pre-cleaning process , prior to sterilization.