BACK TO BASICS – ISSUE NO. 70

Today's healthcare professional has a lot on their plate when it comes to remembering cleaning and sterilization information. So many new products are introduced each day and they all seem to have complex cleaning and sterilization instructions. This month, in the CS Solutions section of HPN's October 2010 issue, a very simple question was asked and then answered: "Should a stylet be left in suction when being sterilized?". The link was posted on our Monday update. The answer is no, it must be out of the suction to make sure steam, which is the sterilant, comes in contact with the inside of the lumen. The article made me think, with all the highly technical equipment, we must never forget the basic stuff; like making sure a stylet is not in suction when it is sterilized.