In a study published by the American Journal of Infection Control in November 2023, researchers examined the risk of disease transmission to patients due to contaminated surgical instruments and immediate use steam sterilization (IUSS). The investigation focused on various hospitals' central service departments (CSSD) and operating rooms (OR), with a particular emphasis on endoscopy units.
The study design involved collecting data from 100 participating hospitals over a one-year period, evaluating the rate of contaminated instruments prior to IUSS and subsequent bacterial growth after steam sterilization. The research team utilized standard microbiological techniques, including contact plate methods, to isolate and identify potential pathogens found on surgical instruments.
Of the 100 hospitals involved in the study, 73 reported instances of contaminated surgical instruments before IUSS. Bacterial growth was observed following steam sterilization in 56% of these cases. Common organisms identified included Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
The study also investigated the cycle time and temperature parameters used during IUSS. It was found that the majority of participating hospitals adhered to industry standards such as ISO 17665-1 and AAMI ST79 for steam sterilization, with a minimum exposure time of 3 minutes at 134°C. However, 20% of hospitals reported cycle times below this threshold, which may have contributed to the observed bacterial growth.
In conclusion, the study underscores potential risks associated with the use of contaminated surgical instruments in immediate use steam sterilization, highlighting the importance of adhering to established standards for effective sterilization processes in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.