Can you ensure to all patients that every instrument used in their surgical procedure can be tracked back to the sterilizer and load in which it was processed? ANSI/AAMI-recommended practices and industry standards for sterilization support the notion that all items used in a procedure must be verified for sterilization and have the ability to be tracked directly to the patient upon which they were used. This is important from an infection control standpoint as well as a legal one. If a biological indicator showed a positive result after the release of instruments and a facility had to recall items, a tracking system would allow the capability for clinical staff to know for certain which patients had items used from the “suspect” load. In addition, it provides peace of mind that your facility is compliant with industry standards and taking the correct course of action to prevent surgical infections.
One approach to instrument tracking is utilizing an automated computer system. Computerized instrument tracking is efficient and effective in tracking instruments through the entire processing cycle using bar code-scanning technology to facilitate tracking from decontamination through sterilization. The one downside if any, to these systems is the cost to purchase and implement the system. With budgets tightening, many clinical directors and infection prevention specialists find themselves wanting an automated system but not having the money available. This, however, is not an excuse for not having an instrument tracking system in place. There are a number of inexpensive alternatives and a facility does not need to spend thousands of dollars to comply with industry standards and recommended practices.
Instrument tracking cards provide one such alternative to automated tracking systems. While they do not provide all the benefits of these systems, they are an inexpensive yet effective product for tracking sterilized instruments directly to the patient upon which they were used. Before sterilization, the nurse or technician responsible for sterilizing instruments applies a load record label to the instrument tracking card. This label records the load and sterilizer information. They then attach to the card to all peel packs, wrapped items and containers with indicator tape and run them in the sterilization process. When the instruments arrive to the operating room, the information on the card is completed, removed from the set and put in the patient’s records.
