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Elimination of Immediate‐Use Steam Sterilization of Radioactive Seed Implants
Author(s) -
Wells Marie S.W.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
aorn journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1878-0369
pISSN - 0001-2092
DOI - 10.1016/j.aorn.2013.02.005
Subject(s) - sterilization (economics) , medicine , brachytherapy , waste management , medical physics , surgery , business , engineering , radiation therapy , finance , exchange rate , foreign exchange market
Immediate‐use steam sterilization (IUSS) was routinely used to prepare radioactive seeds for use in elective urology cases at an urban academic medical center. In an attempt to eliminate this practice, the senior clinical nurse queried educators from nearby facilities about their practices for processing these implants and met with all stakeholders to identify concerns and explore acceptable alternatives. After rejecting the alternative of having central sterile processing personnel sterilize the seeds, a project team conducted a trial by using manufacturer presterilized seeds. After the trial and subsequent evaluation, the team decided to convert to using presterilized seeds for all procedures. The incidence of immediate‐use steam sterilization for nonemergent brachytherapy procedures was reduced from an average of three per month to zero.