Sterile Processing Department

Becki Jenkins,
CST, has nearly twenty-five years of expertise in the field of sterile processing. She is a certified surgical technologist, a certified registered central service technician, and has a fellowship in central service through IAHCSMM. She is president of the central Indiana chapter of IAHCSMM and received the Healthcare Heroes Award from the Indiana Business Journal in 2001. She received the AAMI Becton Dickinson Career achievement award in 2003, and regularly authors articles for ICT's continuing education program. She is the author of Sterilization By Design, Processing of Instrumentation and Medical Devices, Application of Basic Principles and serves as a committee member for two sterilization working groups for AAMI. She also serves as an independent consultant to manufacturers of sterilization devices, container systems and solutions.

Q & A

Recent Q&A

Hardware: Return to Sender?

Question: I work for a multi-disciplinary ambulatory surgery center in northern Minnesota and I was wondering about hardware removals. To date, we handwash the hardware (pins, screws etc.) peel-pack, and steam sterilize for 4 minutes. Personally, Ihave never been a fan of returning surgical hardware to the patient. I guess I'm wondering if there is a national protocol for hardware removals? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. – JM, Duluth, Minn.Answer: A very good question. There is no ...

Looking for SPD Standards and Recommendations?

Question: I work in a doctor's office and was wondering where I can find the most current recommendations on the central sterilizing procedures and how to set up the area to include dirty and clean. -- PH, IowaAnswer: So glad you asked! You may go to www.iahcsmm.org and purchase the Sixth Edition Central Service Manual for $85 or go to www.aami.org and purchase all ofthe current sterilization standards document on CD. I recommend the CD, as this is a very comprehensive document. The cost is ...

Offering Advice to a Doctor Who Self-Sterilizes Instruments

Question: I work in a community hospital in the outpatient department. A chiropodist is starting here and she sterilizes her own instruments in a benchtop sterilizer. We send all of our instruments off to the CSSD to conform to HTM2010. Are there any specific infection control issues I need to consider before she starts? I am most worried about the sterilizing, as she is putting patients and herself at risk. -- JS, United KingdomAnswer: You are right to be concerned for your patients and for ...

Cleaning Autoclaves

Question: Our hospital has five autoclaves. There are three flash autoclaves in the OR and there are two steam sterilizers in the SPD area. I've been in SPD for over 10 years.  My new supervisor wants me to clean the autoclaves from the inside. I think this is a somewhat professional procedure and not for SPD techs. Can you help clarify this problem? -- TA, Texas   Answer: If you are talking about a major scale cleaning, then yes, this would require professional expertise. ...