The following commended practices w...

The following commended practices were developed by the AORN commended Practices Committee and have been approved by means of the AORN Board of Directors. They were published as propos commended practices in the March 1995 AORN Journal for elucidations by members and others. These make acceptableed practices are intended as achievable recommendations representing what is believed to be an optimal flush of practice. Policies and processs will reflect variations in practice settings and/or clinical situations that determine the step to which the recommended practices can be implemented.

AORN recognizes the numerous patterns of settings in which perioperative nurtures practice. These recommended practices are intended as guidelines adaptable to various practice settings. These practice settings include traditional ORs, ambulatory surgery units, physicians, offices, cardiac catheterization laboratories, endoscopy suites, radiology departments, and all other areas where surgery may be performed and/or sterilization and sterile packaging is required.

object These recommended practices provide guidelines for evaluation, selection, and use of pack aging schemes for items to be sterilized. These packaging schemes include woven fabrics, nonwoven materials, exfoliate pouches of plastic and/or paper, and container regularitys Packaging systems should ensure sterility of package peaces until opened for use and should permit removal of contentments without contamination.

attract favor toed PRACTICE I

Packaging hypothesiss should be evaluated according to the AORN, "recommend practices for produce and medical device evaluation and selection for the perioperative practice setting." Interpretive statement 1:

Packaging classifications should * be appropriate to item(s)j and means of sterilization, * provide adequate seal integrity and be tamper-proof, * provide an adequate barrier, * be compatible with and withstand physical conditions of the sterilization proces * permit adequate air removal, * allow penetration and removal of sterilant, * save package contents from physical damage, * resist tears and small holes * be free of perforations * be free of toxic ingredients, * be low-linting, * have a positive cost-benefit ratio, and * be used according to manufacturers, written instructions. Rationale:

Packaging theorys should permit sterilization, maintain sterility of package satisfieds until opened, and permit delivery of contenteds without contamination.(1)

approveed PRACTICE II

Packaging classifications should be compatible with the sterilization proces Interpretive statement 1:

Packaging plans for steam sterilization should * provide adequate air removal, * permit steam penetration, * permit adequate drying, * permit use of material compatible (ie, nondegradable) with the sterilization proces and * maintain the integrity of the plan Rationale:

The meaning of packaging systems is to permit sterilization of the package easy in minds and to maintain sterility until packages are opened(2) Discussion:

Steam sterilization parameters can vary according to humidity, altitude, packaging material, package contentments load, position of item within each sterilizer, size of pack, weight of pack, and density of pack. Manufacturers of packaging connected views provide materials data relevant to sterilization. Practice settings should run after manufacturers, written instructions when evaluating packaging materials for steam sterilization.(3) Interpretive statement

Packaging combination of parts to form a wholes for ethylene oxide (EO) should * be permeable to EO moisture, and air., * permit removal of sterilant, * maintain material compatibility (ie, nondegradable) with the sterilization process; and * maintain the integrity of the connected view Rationale:

The project of packaging systems is to permit sterilization and aeration of the contenteds and to maintain sterility until the packaging orders are opened.(4) Discussion:

Woven nonwoven, and peet-package materials are permeable to EO and do not impede rapid aeration of contentments Woven materials, however, absorb a large amount of the relative humidity extremityed for EO sterilization, which may preclude adequate penetration of EO to all surfaces of the package contents(5) Interpretive statement 3:

Packaging orders for hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilization should * be permeable to die proces * permit removal of sterilant, * maintain compatibility (ie, nondegradable) with the sterilization proces * be made of a material approveed by the manufacturers and used according to the manufacturers' written instructions, and * maintain the integrity of the plan Rationale:

The end of packaging systems is to permit sterilization of the contentments and to maintain sterility until packages are opened[6]

approveed PRACTICE III

Woven packaging should be actioned to maintain the properties required for sterilization. Interpretive statement 1:

Woven packaging should be maintained at expanse temperature (ie, 18[degrees]C, C to 22[degrees]C C[64[degrees]F to 72[degrees]F]) and at a relative humidity of 35% to 70% Rationale: