INFECTION PREVENTION: WHAT’S UP WITH TASS?": Toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) is an acute inflammatory response in the eye's anterior chamber that can strike after cataract surgery. Large outbreaks of TASS are on the decline, and no major outbreaks have been tied to a particular product, medication or IOL. But incidences are still occurring at individual surgical facilities, which indicates there's still work to be done at preventing the avoidable complication.
"3M WEBINAR: IMMEDIATE USE STERILIZATION IN THE OR": 3M free webinar October 8, 2013 1-2 pm CST – Each 1 hour web meeting is 3M Health Care Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nurses CEP 5770 for one contact hour. Learning Objectives include defining Immediate-Use Steam Sterilization, Review AORN and AAMI Recommended Practices, Discuss Hot Topics related to IUSS.
"ARE YOUR INSTRUMENTS REALLY STERILE?": Nancy Chobin, RN, AAS, ACSP, CSPDM Provides overview of how indicators work, what sterilizer printouts say, indicator placement and selection report reading related to biological testing.
"DO'S AND DON’TS OF IMMEDIATE – USE STERILIZATION": Immediate-use sterilization is an effective way to quickly get instruments back into the hands of physicians when — and only when — emergent situations prevent the possibility of full reprocessing cycles. If you're going to flash your instruments, at least do it right. Here are 6 keys.
"WHAT YOUR PROCESSING TECHS NEED TO KNOW": Article outlining what the Certification Board for Sterile Processing & Distribution has identified as the knowledge and skills an ambulatory surgery sterile processing tech with one year’s experience should possess to be considered competent.
PATIENT SAFETY TOOL: STERILE PROCESSING CHECKLIST: The Greater Omaha Chapter of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology provides a free, downloadable sterile processing checklist. The four-page sterilization standards audit checklist addresses aspects of sterile processing including facility design, decontamination, personnel training, packaging, sterilization, sterile storage and policies & procedures.
STERILITY ASSURANCE PRODUCTS BROCHURE: Outlines products for use in sterility assurance, including chemical and biological indicators, sterilization pouches, wraps and tapes, and recordkeeping systems.
PATIENT SAFETY TOOL: STERILIZATION AUDIT CHECKLIST: The Ambulatory Surgery Center Quality Collaboration provides a link to download a free sterilization audit checklist. The checklist was developed by SPSmedical, and may be used to assess the decontamination area, packaging, sterilization and storage areas, and quality control and record keeping.
