The Handling of Sterilization Wrap and Wrapped Trays
Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the most common preventable complication after surgery (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2019). At the core of prevention efforts is ensuring instruments used during these procedures are free from all contamination. Surgical instruments should be arranged in a meticulous array within the tray and then wrapped using proper technique before sterilization. The steps for inspecting, assembling, wrapping, labeling, and handling instrument trays must be performed with strict adherence to standards. Any deviation in the process may jeopardize the sterility of a wrapped item and pose a risk of infection for the patient. The goal is to protect contents from contamination and damage to preserve sterility.
This course will review the types and characteristics of instrument wraps as well as the techniques used to prepare instrument trays for sterilization. It will also discuss the general practices for preventing contamination of wrapped trays during the sterilization process, handling, and storage.
The goal of this course is to equip sterile processing technicians with the knowledge of proper techniques for preparing and handling wrapped instrument trays.
Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the most common preventable complication after surgery (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2019). At the core of prevention efforts is ensuring instruments used during these procedures are free from all contamination. Surgical instruments should be arranged in a meticulous array within the tray and then wrapped using proper technique before sterilization. The steps for inspecting, assembling, wrapping, labeling, and handling instrument trays must be performed with strict adherence to standards. Any deviation in the process may jeopardize the sterility of a wrapped item and pose a risk of infection for the patient. The goal is to protect contents from contamination and damage to preserve sterility. This course will review the types and characteristics of instrument wraps as well as the techniques used to prepare instrument trays for sterilization. It will also discuss the general practices for preventing contamination of wrapped trays during the sterilization process, handling, and storage. The goal of this course is to equip sterile processing technicians with the knowledge of proper techniques for preparing and handling wrapped instrument trays.
