Sterilization quality control in the AJA health care centers in Tehran - 2006

Nosocomial infections are an economic burden on health-care systems and one of the most important mortality related agents of hospitalized patients. Although in attention to true sterilization of surgical instruments has mentioned as the most important sources of nosocomial infections; there are a few hospitals in the country that use the standard quality control methods and archive protocols ordered by international societies. Therefore the main purpose of this study was the survey of sterilization quality control conditions in the AJA health-care systems in Tehran. In this cross-sectional descriptive study sterilization process evaluated in the 12 health-care center including: 8 hospitals, 3 specialty clinics, and a dental clinic. Data were collected by using questionnaire consist of processing of cleaning; disinfection; packing and application of biological indicators were defined generally. Regarding to cleaning, all packages were clean and free of blood and contamination, whereas metal instruments in the packages were rusty in 5 centers (41.7%).in all centers disinfection processes had done well. In the packing processes 5 centers (41.7%) didn’t use double layer cloth wraps and in one center (8.3%) the wraps were torn and dirty obviously and didn’t have much consistence and pentrance truly. Also the packing itself was performed incorrectly in 2 centers (16.7%). In ten centers which used wrapping by paper, 2 centers (20%) didn’t packed their instruments by standard wrapping. Finally sterilization records and documentations didn’t exist in any centers. Quality control of sterilization in comparison with its standards was not acceptable; therefore the observance of these standards as instructions should be proclaimed and enforced.