Best Practices in the Sterile Processing Department (STP)

4th annual conference from Infection Control Today: Virtual Conference of Professional Development
Febray 9-10, 2010

Best Practices in the Sterile Processing Department (STP) by Nancy Chobin, RN, AAS< CSPDM


Guidelines from AAMI and AORN

STP was always the department that was not thought of. Today it is a major player in the hospital.

STP scrubs; physical barriers to this department. Controlled temperature 60-65oF and humidity controlled between 30-60%; and a negative pressure room with less than 10 air exchanges/hour.

clean equipment with reusable brushes; correct detergent or enzymatic cleaner - measure amounts correctly.

Regulatory agencies AAMI and AORN require weekly testing for effectiveness

This inistial cleaning is to reduce biofilm formations and debris left after decontamination

Have to know the water quality and temperature. The correct temperature needs to be used with enzymatic cleaners. If the temperature is too high the enzymatic detergent can be killed, if the temperature is too low the enzymatic detergents can be slo=uggish.

Standard Precautions used in the SPD. Need water repellent gowns and gloves.

Must know how to load sterilizers for optimal cleaning. Each pack has an expiration date on the outside of the package. One time use products should never be cleaned and reused.

Sterilization: steam must contact all surfaces in the packged equipment.
there are special cycles be aware of those peices of equipment that require this.

Ethelene oxide gas: minimal heat and aeration time

There are now infrared thermometer guns check the temperatures on packages.

Storage of sterilized equipment: 2" from outside wall; 8-10" from floor; 18" from ceiling

Process improvement: monitor compliance; PPE use; hand hygiene; loading sterilizers; packaging audits; audit of cleaning and sterilization cycles

There should be good communication between the SPD, OR, and the infection preventionist.



First always process equipment according to the manufacture's instructions for cleaning