Question

You are sterilizing surgical instruments using a gravity displacement sterilizer. There are only a few items to be sterilized, so you are sure there is no possible way for the sterilizer to be overloaded. You are in a hurry, so you quickly drop the instruments in the sterilizer and attend to other business. What steps should you take to make certain that the instruments are loaded correctly?

Original post must be 100 words.

Answer 1

All items to be sterilized should be arranged, so all surface will be directly exposed to the sterilizing agent. Thus, loading procedures must allow for free circulation of steam around each other. There are several important basic principles for loading a sterilizer ;

* Allow or proper sterilent circulation.

* Perforated trays should be placed for the tray is parallel to the shelf.

* Non perforated containers should be placed on their edge. Eg : Basins.

* Small items should be loosely placed in wire baskets and peel packs should be placed on edge in perforated or mesh bottom racks or baskets.

Always follow the above principles while loading instruments for sterilization.