OSHA establishes safety guidelines, including handling hazardous chemicals like disinfectants and sterilants, to protect workers in the sterile processing department.
The IFU contains specific guidelines from manufacturers on how to clean, disinfect, and sterilize their devices, ensuring compliance with proper protocols and device longevity.
The CDC recommends weekly biological testing to confirm that sterilizers are functioning effectively by destroying highly resistant microorganisms like bacterial spores.
AAMI provides evidence-based standards for cleaning, sterilization, and handling medical devices, helping sterile processing departments meet regulatory compliance and ensure patient safety.
If a sterilization process fails or is non-compliant, it is crucial to stop the workflow, document the issue, and inform the supervisor to investigate and resolve the problem. Using improperly sterilized instruments risks patient safety.