Guidelines in Practice: Care and Cleaning of Surgical Instruments

Area of Science:

• Healthcare
• Infection Control
• Surgical Nursing

Background:

• Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a significant concern in healthcare settings.
• Effective cleaning and reprocessing of surgical instruments are critical for preventing SSIs.
• The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) regularly updates its guidelines to reflect the latest evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of the recently updated AORN "Guideline for care and cleaning of surgical instruments."
• To highlight key recommendations for perioperative nurses regarding instrument processing.
• To emphasize the importance of these guidelines in preventing SSIs and ensuring patient safety.

Main Methods:

• Review of the AORN "Guideline for care and cleaning of surgical instruments."
• Discussion of recommendations covering the entire instrument lifecycle, from prepurchase to final inspection.
• Inclusion of a practical scenario demonstrating guideline application.

Main Results:

• The guideline provides comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations for surgical instrument care and cleaning.
• Specific areas covered include water quality, personal protective equipment, point-of-use treatment, and cleaning verification.
• The recommendations aim to enhance infection prevention strategies in perioperative settings.

Conclusions:

• Perioperative nurses must familiarize themselves with and implement the updated AORN guideline.
• Adherence to the guideline supports infection prevention, protects patients and staff, and ensures safe, evidence-based practice.
• Proper instrument care and cleaning are fundamental to maintaining a safe surgical environment.