Sterilization: Would Your Facility Pass a Standards Audit?

ABSTRACTPROPER STERILIZATION of reusable medical instruments, supplies, and devices and maintaining the sterility of these items until they are used are critical aspects of infection control. To minimize risk, perioperative managers should perform sterilization audits to test their facilities.THIS ARTICLE guides the reader through a systematic, comprehensive, sterilization audit that evaluates facility design, personnel training, and processing procedures. AORN J 87 (January 2008) 176-182. © AORN, Inc, 2008.