Things we sterilize but don't have to:

[sonny1388]

I just got in contact with our materials buyer who got me contact info for our distributer's sales rep. My question was concerning the last few things that we are still sterilizing without instructions i.e. christmas trees (5in1 connectors), safety pins, paper rulers, razors, rubber bands.

Through that communication, I found that all of these things (and more) can be purchased sterile through them, and most for cheaper than what we are paying for the non-sterile items.

Now, I know that we are a bit behind out here in the Old West, but I would encourage anybody that is still sterilizing things like this to check it out. I have the Medline page in my e-mail and am willing to forward it to anybody who would like to see it.

[Diane]

We also sterilize all those items so any info you could pass on as to where we can purchase these things I would appriciate it. You can email me at dekohl@charter.net

[sonny1388]

Diane,
E-mail coming. Most of those items are on the very bottom of the file I sent you, and I was assured that 5-in-1 connectors and razors are among some of the other things that they carry

[HRJohn]

Sonny,

Could you please email me the info as well?

Our MM people have had trouble locating a couple of those items.

Thanks!

quakerjohn@hotmail.com

[Tracy Humphreys]

Sonny, could you please also email this list to me? We currently sterilize these goods as well.
Thanks
Tracy Humphreys
tracy.humphreys@metrogr.org

[Scarlette Sloan]

I just got in contact with our materials buyer who got me contact info for our distributer's sales rep. My question was concerning the last few things that we are still sterilizing without instructions i.e. christmas trees (5in1 connectors), safety pins, paper rulers, razors, rubber bands.

Through that communication, I found that all of these things (and more) can be purchased sterile through them, and most for cheaper than what we are paying for the non-sterile items.

Now, I know that we are a bit behind out here in the Old West, but I would encourage anybody that is still sterilizing things like this to check it out. I have the Medline page in my e-mail and am willing to forward it to anybody who would like to see it.
Sonny have you ever put the numbers together on what it costs us to sterilize one peel packed item, steam and EtO??? I would love to see the $$$$

[sonny1388]

Scarlette,
I have, at least with steam and Sterrad (we don't use EtO), but it has been a few months. I will post as soon as I find the paperwork again....(starts rifling through masses of papers and other office junk)
~Sonny

[sonny1388]

Okay, here you go. These aren't final numbers, they are just the numbers you need to calculate for yourself (totals will vary due to type of sterilization, what item you are sterilizing, and chamber size)
Formula: A+B+(CD)=$$
where A=cost of unsterile item
B=cost of peel pack (.24/ea for ours)
C=cost per cubic ft (steam=$1, H3O3=$6, EtO=$19)
D=size of chambe in cubic feet (our steam is 24 cubic ft)
Therefore, for sterilzing a five-in-one connector:

.54+.24+(1 x 24)=$24.78/ea

Of course this is calculating if you ran only that one item on a load. If you ran 100 on one load, it would be 2.48/ea.

[arlene pavlekovich]

Does any one sterilize larygoscope blades? We currently use opa. We were thinking of switching to sterilizing bit did not know if the heat would harm the blades. if any one knows please comment.

Thank you
Arlene

[autoclave1]

I am no accountant, but it sure seems logical to purchase the items pre-sterilized given the cost to sterilze an item my multiply five times from the original cost.

[arlene pavlekovich]

I'm talking about metal blades with light source. They are not single use item.

Are we talking about the same thing?

Thanks Arlene

[autoclave1]

I recommend that you consult with your infection control nurse and/or risk management team. The issue is that of hight level disenfetion vs. sterilization. This same issue is raised in endoscopy. Do you sterilize a scope, or just highly disenfect it? I do not think that this issue will over be resolved given the different schools of thought on this issue.

[Nannette Braley]

Arlene - we steam sterilize our laryngoscope blades per the manufacturer guidelines.

[D.TEA]

We starrad all our laryngscopes in peel packs labeled with department ,size and initials. Sterile peel packs make it easier to handle and store in the different departments. Even thou they're semi-critiical devises ,think about all the sufaces and handlling that they go threw before they reach the patient. If were a teaspoon would you put it in your mouth, I wouldn't.

[Sheri]

we process laryngoscope blades in our sterrad unit. Then anesthesia opens them and throws them in a drawer. *lol*

[David Freeman]

The standard I've seen for laryngoscope blades is that they have to be "high level disinfected". Sterilization is not necessary. However, with a recent problem in California in an NICU, we decided sterilization achieves the above standard in a quick, efficient, reliable way. In the OR, the anesthesia tech cleans the blades and then processes them in the STERIS System 1. He then dries them and places them in open peel pouches in the anesthesia machines. (this method breaks down if the tech doesn't wash his hands but it does prevent cross contamination from one patient to another) For the rest of the hospital, SPD cleans, tests and packages individual blades for STERRAD. The blade manufacturer gives us supporting data for this process.

[davidds91]

Arlene,
We currently do not sterilize laryngoscope blades and I don't believe they are required to be. Only items that break the mucus membrains are required to be sterile i.e. surgical instruments. A Laryngoscope blade falls in the same catagory as dental or any other ENT item. We manually clean them with Klenzym and water, then rinse or wipe them down with alcohol. I suppose Cidex OPA would work just fine however, it is time consuming and expensive. On the other hand, ETO would also work but again, very time consuming. Our Dental and ENT items are manually cleaned then run through our washer.

[ldp]

Kendall also makes a sterile 5 in 1 connector which we get throught Owens and Minor. The catalog number is 8888271502.

[Cindy Bee]

Does any one sterilize larygoscope blades? We currently use opa. We were thinking of switching to sterilizing bit did not know if the heat would harm the blades. if any one knows please comment.

Thank you
Arlene
Arelene,

Your specific mfg instructions must be followed. Some of ours are steam sterilizable, all are H202 sterilizable so we do use H202(Sterrad). Batteries must be removed from handles before sterilization. We also function test blades before sterilization. While this is above and beyond the current standard, its easy enough and its what we would want for our family and ourselves. After watching my ex husband be the difficult intubation during a seizure where he was bleeding orally, I am glad it was our standard.
:o :p

[Cindy Bee]

we process laryngoscope blades in our sterrad unit. Then anesthesia opens them and throws them in a drawer. *lol*
Gee I hope someone cleans out the drawer on a frequent basis! at least that stops patient to patient transmission.

[jrc]

Does any one sterilize larygoscope blades? We currently use opa. We were thinking of switching to sterilizing bit did not know if the heat would harm the blades.
Some blades can take the heat, some cannot. Check with the manufacturer's instructions. High level disinfection is the standard, since it is a noninvasive instrument.

[cpdguy]

Their are many companies that supply these itmes . i would suggest people look around, you might be able to save money.

I remeber getting at east two flyers a month in the mail when I was a manager,sorry I can not remember the companies names maybe others can share names of other vendors.

I agree buy them made up,do not do it your self.

[Monarch]

Our hospital system just converted to disposable (they are disposed of in a recyclers container to be melted into metal mass for reuse as OR table/ ring stands, etc.) laryngoscope blades. Pricing of course is dependent upon volume of use. However our standard of care is of course as high as can be, because these items are always clean/sterile for every patient. With the exception of NICU blades there were no 00 or 000 sizes in disposables. We follow the manufactuerer guidelines and sterilize in our pre-vac steam loads in peel pouches. According to Welch Allyn these items are not designed for flash sterilization but can be sterilized using pouching and pre-vac sterilization.