Reduction in immediate use steam sterilization associated with reduction in surgical site infections - 17/01/26
, Linda Merz, M(ASCP)CM, MLT, CIC b, Kathleen McMullen, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA aRésumé |
Background |
Immediate use steam sterilization (IUSS) is a potential risk factor for surgical site infection (SSI). A quality improvement project to reduce IUSS was implemented at a single hospital after a regulatory survey noted excessive use.
Methods |
Components of the project included 3 signatures for every cycle of IUSS; Ordering of additional trays; removal of ability of surgery personnel to perform IUSS; reduction in number of IUSS sterilizers from 8 to 1. The project was fully implemented in December 2019. No other changes were made that were anticipated to impact orthopedic SSI rates.
Results |
There was no IUSS use after November 2019. Prior to the project, there were 9 hip SSI (rate = 0.54 per 100 procedures) and 14 knee SSI (rate = 0.49). After the project, hip SSI decreased by 76% (2 SSI, rate = 0.13, P = < .05) and knee SSI decreased by 18% (7 SSI, rate = 0.41, P = .67).
Conclusions |
A multidisciplinary quality improvement project was successful at drastically reducing the use of IUSS, and a correlating statistically significant decrease in hip SSI and clinically significant decrease in knee SSI was seen for 3 years after the project was completed.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Highlights |
• | Elimination of IUSS corresponded to decrease in hip and knee surgical site infections. |
• | IUSS form facilitated accountability and discouraged IUSS usage. |
• | Validation of sterilizer record to IUSS log critical to ensure accuracy. |
• | Sufficient instruments for cases vital to reduce IUSS usage. |
Key Words : Immediate use steam sterilization (IUSS), Surgical site infection (SSI)
Plan
| Conflicts of interest: Jennifer Jaffe and Linda Merz have nothing to disclose. Kathleen McMullen is a speaker for Solventum, BD, and H.B. Fuller. None of these disclosures are expected to have impacted this work. |
Vol 54 - N° 1
P. 51-54 - janvier 2026 Retour au numéro
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