A sterilization pouches is a type of special packaging that has been developed for passage through an autoclave. It is a sterilization tool that kills microorganisms by creating very hot temperatures and high pressure. Reusable surgical supplies such as drapes and tools can be placed in individual sterilization pouches and sterilized to make them safe for use on a new patient. Numerous medical suppliers manufacture sterilization pouches in various sizes and designs to meet different requirements.
The pouches consists of a combination of high-performance paper and film. It is permeable to gases but does not allow microorganisms inside and is usually tightly sealed so that a nurse or technician can place the instruments inside without fear of contamination. The film is tinted so that cracks that indicate a non-sterile condition can be easily identified. Foil and paper can withstand cuts from medical instruments and other potential accidents.
To use a sterilization pouches, a technician first washes and dries the material to be sterilized. Once it’s done, she puts it in a sterilization pouches and seals it. The pouches come in a variety of sizes to accommodate a wide variety of devices. The technician will also put a tape of indicator tape on the pouch. The tape changes color in the autoclave to indicate that the contents have been sterilized, and the technician usually dates the tape for safety reasons. Once a load of pouches is ready, the technician can place it in the autoclave and start the sterilization cycle.
In preparation for a procedure, technicians can remove sterilization pouches with the appropriate tools and equipment from storage and make them available for use. To maintain a sterile field, the outside of the pouches are considered non-sterile and must be handled carefully to ensure the integrity of the contents. Nurses need to be able to pull tools inward without touching the outside of the pouches. A non-sterile person pulls the opening of the sterilization pouches without touching the inside so that a sterile person can grasp the tool inside.
Maintaining a sterile field is critically important in surgery and all members of the operating room have the right and duty to speak up if they discover a safety issue. For example, a nurse who discovers a hole in a sterilization pouches must alert the other staff. Sterilization pouches are also used in other environments, e.g. B. in tattoo and piercing studios and for sterilizing tools such as specula for medical examinations.