Too Many Chemicals in SPD
According to OSHA, hazardous chemicals are prevalent in Central Sterile Supply (SPD). Examples include concentrated liquids with extreme pH levels, sterilization liquids and gases, plasma vapors, and other disinfecting liquids and aerosols. Given rising costs, climate change and the depletion of our natural resources, like water, perhaps it’s time to consider the excessive amount of chemical agents used in health care facilities and importantly to consider how we can use less and standardize on what is truly needed and it may be only one.
Scores of Cleaners, Replicate Steps
Recently, we participated in an RFP where we had to cross reference scores of detergents and cleaners, some neutral, others alkaline, pre-treatment products for point of use, neutralizers, descalers, solvents, lubricants and sheeting agents. Each chemical applied every step of the way from point of use, followed by soaking and manual cleaning in decontamination, perhaps sonication, too, and finally the three chemical agents that complete the process in washer disinfectors with an enzyme cleaning step, a detergent wash, and finally lubrication. Are all these chemical agents truly needed for cleaning medical devices? Is anything CLEAN when the rinse setting on the washer may only be15 seconds. And the cart washer uses the reservoir of recycled water up to 20 uses.
Detergent Facilitates, Water Washes Away
Chemicals don’t clean; they remove, or lift retained soil, bioburden and detergent residue from the surfaces of devices that then need to be thoroughly rinsed with clean water. Water is the universal solvent but when devices are contaminated with so many chemical agents, rinsing will not be effective. Residue remains, (bioburden, too) and can transfer to the next wash cycle and even to the next patient. Consider washing containers and now instrumentation in cart washers. While there are instrument cycles, container cycles and of course the standard cart washer cycle originally designed like a car wash to clean items in bulk, it is rare that anyone uses any other cycle than the cart wash one.
Crafty Case Solutions
Years ago, I worked with the orthopedic team at a major teaching hospital to reduce the weight and clutter in their procedure trays. Specifically, they asked us to downsize and declutter their overly heavy ortho/spine instrument sets which included years of accumulated items requested by surgeons no longer at the facility. We successfully reduced and reconfigured the trays to meet their requirements and then REPURPOSED the excess inventory to make new sets. Given the interest in our process, we went on to present a series of well-attended hands-on presentations called Crafty Case Solutions with continuing education units for years afterwards. Without realizing it at the time (30 years ago), this was the beginning of our journey to support sustainability by reducing WASTE and contributing to the lower cost of ownership by reducing reprocessing times and repurposing excess inventory.
Standardize on SuperNova™
It is time to consider looking at our chemical inventory and standardize on only a few cleaners that are validated and certified to be highly effective, do no harm, and can safely be disposed of directly into the waste water stream. Do we need ready to use pre-cleaners, a different detergent for manual cleaning, sonication and automated washing? Perhaps, but we can standardize on one. Perhaps SuperNova, EPA Safer Choice labeled, multi-enzymatic detergent, validated in one step and residue free after a brief rinse may be all that’s needed with an occasional lubrication in Prep & Pack.
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Visit us anytime at www.casemed.com to learn more about our products and services. We are here to help. Case Medical is a U.S. EPA Safer Choice Partner of the Year and a Frontrunner in the Chemical Footprint Project. Contact us today to learn more about our certified eco-friendly cleaners and detergents and how we can help your facility’s bottom line with reusable and environmentally preferred products and services.
Kindest Regards,
