English (Canada)
Sterilization wrap and pouches need to be dry when removed from an autoclave. Unfortunately, ‘wet packs’ can be an issue, resulting in wicking and contamination of the contents. In some cases, the packaging is visibly damp when removed from the autoclave. In other cases, this issue is only recognized when the packaging is opened for use at the point-of-care and moisture is found inside a cassette and/or on an instrument. In either case the pack needs to be reprocessed.
It can be tempting to think the cause is the equipment you are using, or the pouch/wrap itself. The fact is that the cause of wet packs is usually due to human error.
Here are a couple of key tips for helping to prevent wet packs related to packaging errors when using sterilization pouches:
- Make sure that the pouch used is indicated for the sterilization process.
- Make sure instruments are thoroughly dry before placing them into sterilization pouches.
- Avoid overfilling and overloading pouches.
- Do not fold pouches in the autoclave (which might save space but also impedes drying).
- Only double-pouch during packaging if the pouch is validated for this purpose and be sure to double-pouch correctly (plastic to plastic and paper to paper).
- Remove packs from the autoclave only after the drying cycle is complete and the packs are dry.
While there are multiple causes of wet packs, following these tips on packaging can contribute to effective instrument processing and efficiency when using paper-plastic pouches.
