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. after reprocessing.4

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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

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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. Section 6.3.1

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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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