Challenging the Six-Hour Recommendation for Reprocessing Sterisable Medical Equipment

Bundgaard K., Sørensen E.E., Ripadal K., Christensen A-E. & Schønheyder H-C. (2019) Challenging the Six-Hour Recommendation for Reprocessing Sterisable Medical Equipment. Journal of Hospital Infection, 101 (2019):13-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2018.10.009

National and international guidelines recommend reprocessing of medical instruments to be initiated within 6 h after completion of surgery. The main concern is that a longer holding time may result in deterioration of the instruments, i.e., inefficient cleaning using standard protocols for reprocessing and consequently more susceptibility to corrosion.

The aim of this study was to evaluate this 6-hour recommendation by determining whether residual protein increased proportional to holding time before reprocessing was initiated, and likewise whether an increase in corrosion was present on surgical scissors proportional to holding time.

The study identified no association between neither the presence of protein residue and holding time nor between the occurrence of corrosion and the holding time before reprocessing was initiated. Thus, the cleanliness and durability of instruments after dry and uncovered storage seems to be independent of holding time before reprocessing.

Funding: Health Innovation Fund, North Denmark Region, Denmark: 665.000 DKK

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