Protectin the sterility of theatre instrumentation

The development of a surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most frequent adverse events in healthcare delivery worldwide, affecting millions of patients each year and causing significant mortality and financial losses. The first European Union-wide surveillance study of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and antimicrobial use in hospitals, conducted by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in 2011–2012, estimated that out of a total of 15,000 reported HCAIs, 19.6% were SSIs.1 In addition, the World Health Organization reported that the SSIs are more common in low- and middle-income countries where healthcare resources are often limited, and can affect up to one-third of patients who have had surgery.2,3 Numerous patientrelated and procedure-related factors have been shown to influence the risk of SSIs. However, irrespective of the surgical setting and patient disposition, rigorous surgical instrument cleaning and reprocessing remain a fundamental element of SSI prevention;4 it is critical that surgical instruments are sterilised efficiently and that the sterility of these items is maintained until they are put to use.

Sterile barrier systems

Surgical instruments and other items required to be sterile at the point of use need to be contained in suitable packaging material(s). The combination of materials and how they are shaped or designed is called a sterile barrier system (SBS). A variety of SBS types are available, including rigid reusable containers, tubing reels, and synthetic disposable wrap. In some circumstances, depending on the local conditions for handling, transport and storage, the SBS needs extra protection. Additional protective packaging may need to be combined with the SBS to create a packaging system, e.g. a wrapped tray in a rigid transport basket.