PACKAGING OF SETS AND OTHER

STERILE CONSUMABLES IN
TSSU/CSSD
 PPE
• Wear a head cover-should cover the ear lobe and hair.
• Close toed shoes
• Clean uniform

• Hand hygiene-before and after procedures

• No rings, no watch
• No chewing gum, ear phones etc
• No jewelry - dangling ear rings, chains, bracelets
• No food eating, or chewing.
• If male staff have facial hair, this must be fully covered with a mask.
• Fingers nails should kept short, on cutex or any other nail application.
Inspection and assembly
• Inspection should take place on the clean side of the SSD
• A flat, clean and well lit surface
• Use good light to catch reflections if organic matter is
present
• Use a magnifying lens to inspect properly some organic
matter cannot be seen with the naked eye.
• If no satisfied, return for further cleaning
• Sterilant must come in contact with all areas.
• Instruments must be positioned in a protective manner
until used.
• Ensure instruments are evenly distributed. In the tray
• Instruments that are not cared for have –shorter life
span
-increased repairs
-incur frequent .
replacement cost.
• and dirt which is a potential danger to patients and staff.
Inspection
• Once the items are cleaned there are safe to handle
• The tray is placed on a flat surface-check for
completeness as per control checklist.
• Each item inspected carefully
• What are you looking for?
-cleanness!
-dryness !
-Rust/corrosion! What causes rust?
o Presence of residual soil especially in joints and ridge
o Functional
- check scissors for burrs, cracks.
- Ensure that’ jawed’ instuments close without gaps.
- Self – retracting retractors should be checked to ensure that
the retaining mechanism is working properly.
- Instruments should be checked for burrs, cracks, scratches.
Bends, sharpness of cutting edges (where necessary), dents,
alignment.
NB;
Scratches, dents, cracks etc, hinding place for microorganism
Thorough cleaning is crucial.
Assembly Purpose of packaging
• Medical devices with hinges are opened and closed several times to
ensure fitness foe use • To allow penetration of the
• The tips of all opposing medical devices should meet or close
properly
• All ratcheted instruments must be placed in an open position
sterilization agent i.e.
• All alike instrument must be placed in an open position.
• Micro instruments need to be kept in their own special tray.
steam, gas or irradiation
• Manufacturers recommend that trays must be no more than 16
pounds.
• To maintain the sterility of
• All items which are broken or require repair should be removed,
replaced or sent for repair the contents of the pack
• Place a note of missing items on the outside of the pack
• Then assemble medical devices according to tray list( instrument from the sterilization
control checklist)
• All labelled/marked instruments( with tape/coded clip) should be process to use
replaced or repaired.
• To allow the aseptic
PACKING;
-select the appropriate tray removal of the contents
-Place tray liner in the bottom
-Inspect and pack instruments according to tray layout. with ease.
-complete packing instrument set.
-check the type and quantity of instrument against a checklist.
Packaging
• Primary
– To prevent recontamination
with dust and /or microbes
and maintain sterility during
transport and storage e.g.
layers of paper or fabric
• Secondary
– To facilitate transport and
storage e.g. extra layer
• Transport
– E.g. cardboard box removed
when entering “clean” area
Packaging requirements
• Enables sterilization
• Compatible with the sterilization process, -allow air
removal from the package—can withstand autoclave
moisture, high temperature, pressure.
• Must allow escape of sterilization agent.
• Material must allow the contents inside to dry after
sterilization.
• Maintains sterility-(barrier to dust and particle).
• Strong, resist tears and punctures during handling
• Ensure product integrity and patient safety
• Indicator
• Facilitate aseptic opening
• Visible that it was opened.
• Should be lint free to prevent contamination. Of items
wrapped.
• Should resist moisture penetration.
• Must not contain ” bleeding “ dyes or toxins that could
produce a reaction during sterilization
• Seals must not be able to reseal after opening to prevent
mixing of contaminated and uncontaminated items.
Materials Type of packaging

• Reusable • Metal
– Boxes • Linen
– Fabrics
• Paper
• Single use • Glass
– Pouches
• plastics
– Wraps
– bags
Cotton or linen
• Used as inner wrapper or outer
dust cover
• Strong, easy to work with, can be
reused
• Does not provide adequate
microbial barrier
• Fabrics require conditioning to
retain natural humidity. If fabric
is too dry it may cause
sterilization failure due to
overheating of the steam
• Release particles
Paper sheets
• Primary packaging for wrapping
of textiles and instrument trays
and inner packaging in containers
• Smaller pore size than fabrics
• Smooth papers and crepe paper
is used
• Paper allows penetration of
sterilization agent
• When wet it looses strength so
wrap loosely to avoid excess
stress
• Essential that drying is adequate
Paper bags Non-woven fabrics

• Used for small items

• Not strong- single use
• Cannot visualize contents
• Difficult to open using
aseptic technique
• Load with handle near
opening
• Has extreme memory
• Does not have flexibility
• Easily penetrated by steam.
Non-woven sheets
• • Primary packaging for small instrument
Different fibers e.g. cellulose, etc
textile joined together by pressing or
heating
• Primary packaging for wrapping of
textiles and instrument trays and
inner packaging in containers
• Strong, droppable
• Allow air removal and penetration of
sterilization agent
• Very small pores
• Free of particles and loose fibers
• Repel liquids
• Wide range of products
Laminated film pouches
sets and individual instruments
• Paper and laminated transparent plastic
• Air removal and penetration through
paper layer
• Sealed using heat sealer or tape not a
stapler.
• Contents clearly visible—one side is
paper, other side is plastic.
• Easy to perform aseptic removal of
contents
• Select the right size pouch for the job
• Remove all excess air from pouch before
sealing.
Should not be tightly wrapped not to
hinder expansion during sterilization
period.
Rigid containers Rigid containers
• Primary packaging for wrapping of
textiles and instrument trays
• Air removal and steam access through
filters and valves
• Containers fit sterilizers and washer
disinfectors
• Facilitates aseptic removal as lid is
removed
• Good protection of contents during
transport and storage-assurance of
sterility.
• Containers can be stacked
• Used to return and contain
contaminated instruments.
• Gaskets on Tray lids need to be
inspected.
Wrapping – envelope fold Wrapping – parcel fold
Use for smaller items Used for larder packs
Accessories
• Adhesive tape –
autoclave/indicator tape
• Appropriate trays – for
arranging instruments
• Place tray liner in the
bottom of the tray
• Baskets – for small items to
assist with loading of
sterilizers
Labeling
• Cycle number/sterilizer
number
• Date of processing
• Contents
• Sterilization indicator
• Name of the packer. (two)
• Autoclaving tapes.
• Masking tape.
 Packaging of soft packs requirements Supplementary/implants requirements

• Autoclaving tape, • Autoclaving tape,

• Comply strip • Comply strip
• Wrapping paper/liner wrappers
•
• Closure bag/crepe paper
Double wrap
• Check linen for dirt- taken back to laundry • Sterilizing reel
• Torn linen should stitched. • Sealing machine
• Specific item as per work instruction • Pack every item as per work
• Label the name of pack, expiry date and instruction
the packers name.
• Linen packs must be packed loose to • Label the name of packs, expiry
allow all surfaces to be sterilized. date and packers name
• Basin sets need to be separated by
towels.
 Summary
Good packaging and traceability will ensure
– Patients protection
– Instrument protection
– An assurance of sterility