Korean J Nosocomial Infect Control.  2012 Jun;17(1):21-27.

Effect of Interventions by Using Checklist for the Management of Steam Sterilizers and Sterilized Items in Out-patient Clinics and Clinical Laboratories

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Clinical Nursing, University of Ulsan, Seoul, Korea. jsjeong@amc.seoul.kr
  • 2Central Supply Team, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study was performed to evaluate the results of intervention activities on the management of steam sterilizers and sterile items in out-patient clinics and clinical laboratories.
METHODS
A checklist was developed and used to monitor and evaluate the adequacy of sterilizers and sterilized items at out-patient clinics and clinical laboratories in a tertiary-care hospital. The checklist consisted of 7 items: condition of the material used for packaging sterile items, maintenance of shelf-life records, sterilizer cleanliness, maintenance of expiry date details of sterilized items, sterilization conditions, use of chemical indicators, and the results of biological indicators. Monitoring and additional intervention activities were carried out once every week for 53 weeks from August 2007 to July 2008. The study period was divided into 2 terms, early and late intervention; the duration of each term was 6 months, and we compared the ratio of adequacy of management of sterilizer and sterilized items between the 2 terms.
RESULTS
There were a total of 795 observations from 15 departments in 1 year. Sterility of the materials used for packaging increased from 87.4% in the first 6-month term to 97.9% in the second 6-month term. Records for shelf-life increased from 89.6% to 98.5% in the same period, while the figures for maintaining expiry date details of sterilized items and for steam sterilizer cleanliness increased from 92.6% to 99.2%, and from 91.9% to 98.5 (P<0.05), respectively.
CONCLUSION
Our intensive checklist-based intervention was effective in improving the management of steam sterilizers and sterile items in out-patient clinics and clinical laboratories.

Keyword

Steam sterilizer; Outpatient clinics; Hospital; Checklist

MeSH Terms

Ambulatory Care Facilities
Checklist
Humans
Infertility
Organothiophosphorus Compounds
Outpatients
Product Packaging
Steam
Sterilization
Organothiophosphorus Compounds
Steam
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