A survey to quantify wet loads after steam sterilization processes in healthcare facilities

Wet loads after steam sterilization of medical devices in healthcare facilities are unacceptable. However, little is known about their frequency in daily practice. An online survey was distributed via four national sterilization associations, in Australia (Sterilising Research Advisory Council of Australia (Vic), Inc. (VIC SRACA)), Belgium (Vereniging sterilisatie in het ziekenhuis (VSZ)), Italy (Associazione Italiana Operatori Sanitari addetti alla Sterilizzazione - Società Scientifica (AIOS)), and The Netherlands (Vereniging van Deskundigen Steriele Medische Hulpmiddelen (VDSMH)). Seventy-eight percent of 125 hospital sterilization facilities recognized wet loads, occurring at frequencies ranging from monthly to every load. Usually, wet loads were identified by the presence of water droplets; these loads were repacked and resterilized. Given the pervasiveness of wet loads, and their impact on reprocessing times and costs, strategies to reduce their frequency are needed.