Immediate Use Steam Sterilization: It's All About the Process

Proper reprocessing of surgical instrumentation assists in infection prevention efforts. Immediate use steam sterilization, previously known as flash sterilization, is an effective method of sterilization if it is performed according to manufacturers' validated instructions. Items that undergo immediate use steam sterilization are subject to the same cleaning and decontamination requirements that apply to preparing items for terminal sterilization, and manufacturers' instructions for use must be strictly followed. In 2009, The Joint Commission revised its position statement on flash sterilization and emphasized that three critical steps of reprocessing must be followed to ensure sterility (ie, cleaning and decontamination, sterilization, aseptic transfer) and that complete documentation must be available for each immediate use steam sterilization cycle so that the device is traceable to the patient if problems arise.