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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). The problem of contaminated instruments being returned to the O.R. after reprocessing.4

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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.

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

Elmed

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.