ACST 213 Quality Control Lecture 1 PDF

Quality Control (ACST 213) Lecture 1 What Is Sterilization? Sterilization is any process that removes, kills, or deactivates all forms of life. Sterilization is related to the term sterile, which means a complete absence of viable microorganisms or microbes that have the potenti...

Quality Control (ACST 213) Lecture 1 What Is Sterilization? Sterilization is any process that removes, kills, or deactivates all forms of life. Sterilization is related to the term sterile, which means a complete absence of viable microorganisms or microbes that have the potential to reproduce. Introduction You can’t see sterility. A sterile instrument looks identical to a nonsterile instrument. Thus, the decision on whether processed instruments are safe for patient use must be based upon other information. A sterilization quality control (QC) system must be in place to provide a process testing framework that will provide this necessary information Introduction Proper sterilization of instruments and materials is a critical aspect of infection control. Historically, healthcare professionals have sought a means to effectively and reliably manage sterilization by monitoring the parameters needed for sterilization (time, temperature and sterilant contact). Since microorganisms cannot be seen with the naked eye, the major difficulty in sterilization is determining when an item is considered sterile. Quality Control & Quality Assurance: Quality Assurance: all the planned and systematic activities implemented within the quality system that can be demonstrated to provide confidence that a product or service will fulfill requirements for quality Quality Control: the operational techniques and activities used to fulfill requirements for quality  In earlier days, a raw potato was sometimes placed in the sterilizer along with the load being processed and afterwards examined to see if it was cooked. If it was, then the load was considered sterile. As sterilization processes became more sophisticated, more scientific monitoring practices replaced this rather crude method. Today, an overall sterility assurance program involves the use of the following management tools: 1.Chemical Indicators/Integrators 2.Biological Indicators 3.Mechanical/Electronic Control QUALITY Each step of the sterile supply cycle is crucial to the good and safe use of a sterile reusable ASSURANCE medical device/instrument during a surgical intervention. An error during any of the stages of the decontamination cycle may lead to huge costs, serious suffering and endanger the lives of patients and staff.  Quality Assurance (QA) is designed to Quality objectively and systematically monitor and Assurance evaluate services offered to clients in accordance with pre-established standards (QA) and to resolve identified problems and pursue opportunities for improving services, leading to client satisfaction. Quality Each Health Care Facility should have a system in place to provide quality patient care Assurance through the provision of sterile equipment and medical devices. Types of sterilization processes used in health care facilities are steam, ethylene oxide, dry- heat, gas plasma and chemical sterilization. Monitoring the Sterilization Process Quality Should include:  Administrative Controls Assurance  Mechanical Indicators Program  Chemical Indicator Monitoring  Biological Indicator Monitoring  Continuing Education Administrative Controls Continuing Professional Development (CPD) System: CPD- Administrative Controls:- Includes:-  policies and procedures  continuous education, training and observation of employees  maintain updated knowledge about guidelines, current research and recommended practices  CPD designed to facilitate efficient processing of patient care items Monitoring Definition: A process of measuring, recording, collecting and analyzing data on actual implementation of the program and communicating it to the program managers so that any deviation from the planned operations are detected, diagnosis for causes of deviation is carried out and suitable corrective actions are taken. Monitoring process Detecting deviations from plans Diagnosing causes for deviations Taking corrective action The purpose of monitoring 1- To ensure that programs are implemented as planned. 2- Preparation of action plan as follows:-  The plan should specify what needs to be done, who is going to do it, and when it is to be done  Inadequacy in planning will result in inadequacy in monitoring Objectives of Monitoring the Sterilization Process To assure high probability of absence of microbes on processed items To detect failures as soon as possible To remove medical devices involved in failures before patient use To improve patient outcomes To control costs To peace of mind Methods of Monitoring 1. Mechanical Indicators Equipment control 2. Chemical Indicators Exposure/Process control Pack control 3. Biological Indicators Load control  Sterilization Process Monitors MECHANICAL COMBINED RESULTS STERILITY STERILITY CHEMICAL ASSURANCE ASSURANCE BIOLOGICAL