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  • 1.  Sterile instrument tracking

    Posted 12-19-2025 11:14

    We are updating our processes related to autoclave and sterilizing our instruments. Looking to see what other organizations are doing to track instrument use on patients. If there is an issue with the autoclave quality assurance, how do you track back what instruments were used on patients between the last successful quality assurance test? What processes is your organization following to document each load and then track the use of each instrument on patients.

    Any guidance would be much appreciated!

    Thank you!



    ------------------------------
    Jessica Stevens, BSN, RN
    Clinical Nurse Educator
    Ambulatory Services
    South Shore Medical Center
    Part of South Shore Health
    143 Longwater Drive Norwell, MA 02061
    Phone: (781) 261-7849
    Internal x37849
    Email: jstevens@southshorehealth.org
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Sterile instrument tracking

    Posted 12-22-2025 17:53

    At my FQHC we do bacteriologic testing each day the autoclave is used.  We sequester instruments until the test for that day has passed (test negative, control positive).  We put the instruments away such that the soonest to expire instruments are used first.  We don't, however, track which load the instruments are from for any given procedure.  I'm curious what others are doing.



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    Lisa Duncan, DNP, MBA, RN, AMB-BC, CIC, NEA-BC
    VP, Regulatory and Compliance
    Family Health Centers of San Diego
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  • 3.  RE: Sterile instrument tracking

    Posted 12-23-2025 13:03

    Hi Lisa,

     

    At our organization, we have a event-related sterility approach for our re-processed instruments.  All items are considered sterile until some event compresses their sterility such as package being torn or wet.

     

     

    Cindy La Phan, MSN, RN, AMB-BC | Clinical Nurse Educator - Ambulatory

    Nursing Quality, Research & Education

    UCI Health

    101 City Dr. Bldg 22A, Rte 162, Orange, CA 92868

    Tel: 714-456-7131 | Fax: 714-456-3980

    cdla@hs.uci.edu

     

     

    To learn more about things in Ambulatory:

    Ambulatory Clinical Education and Resources (sharepoint.com)

     

        

     




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