Ensuring proper instrument processing starts at the point of use. Compliance with best practices requires ongoing commitment from perioperative management, infection preventionists, and sterile processing department (SPD) leadership—especially after a regulatory survey. But what does true compliance look like? It comes down to two key steps:
The first step in driving compliance is education. Clinical teams in surgical suites, labor and delivery, endoscopy, and other high-soil departments must understand the risks of dried soils, which can lead to biofilm formation, corrosion, and instrument damage.
The second step is making compliance easy. Sterile, non-saline water should be readily available, and there should be a designated method for collecting soiled sponges and excess liquid. Importantly, contaminated instruments should never be transported in a liquid bath, as this creates added infection control risks.
The third puzzle piece is transit time. If contaminated instruments reach sterile processing in under an hour, covering them with wet towels may be enough to keep moisture. However, longer delays—due to overnight procedures, SPD workflow bottlenecks, off-site transport, or staff shortages—often need the use of chemical pretreatment agents.
Choosing the Right Pretreatment Spray
When delays exceed one hour, chemical pretreatment sprays can help prevent soil from drying while also offering additional benefits. However, not all chemicals are suitable. An effective pretreatment agent should:
Successful instrument processing begins at the point of use. Facilities should first aim to reduce transit delays as much as possible. When delays are unavoidable, selecting the right pretreatment spray ensures instruments stay in best condition for reprocessing, ultimately improving patient safety.
- Precleaning during procedures – Using sterile water and sterile sponges to prevent the buildup of dried contaminants.
- Pretreatment during transport – Keeping instruments moist with wet towels or specialized chemical sprays to prevent soils from hardening before reprocessing.
The first step in driving compliance is education. Clinical teams in surgical suites, labor and delivery, endoscopy, and other high-soil departments must understand the risks of dried soils, which can lead to biofilm formation, corrosion, and instrument damage.
The second step is making compliance easy. Sterile, non-saline water should be readily available, and there should be a designated method for collecting soiled sponges and excess liquid. Importantly, contaminated instruments should never be transported in a liquid bath, as this creates added infection control risks.
The third puzzle piece is transit time. If contaminated instruments reach sterile processing in under an hour, covering them with wet towels may be enough to keep moisture. However, longer delays—due to overnight procedures, SPD workflow bottlenecks, off-site transport, or staff shortages—often need the use of chemical pretreatment agents.
Choosing the Right Pretreatment Spray
When delays exceed one hour, chemical pretreatment sprays can help prevent soil from drying while also offering additional benefits. However, not all chemicals are suitable. An effective pretreatment agent should:
- Be compatible with the instrument manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFU), which often recommend mild, neutral pH, or enzymatic solutions.
- Avoid disinfectants, as many have alcohol, which can fixate proteins and make cleaning more difficult.
- Maintain moisture and, ideally, include anti-corrosive properties to protect delicate instruments.
- Offer active soil breakdown using enzymatic action, either through direct enzymatic ingredients or bio-generated enzyme activity.
Successful instrument processing begins at the point of use. Facilities should first aim to reduce transit delays as much as possible. When delays are unavoidable, selecting the right pretreatment spray ensures instruments stay in best condition for reprocessing, ultimately improving patient safety.