Immediate Use Sterilization: A Review of the Basics

PHILADELPHIA, August 4, 2011 -- In 2009, the Joint Commission urged surgical instutitions not to opt for flash sterilization as a matter of convenience over terminal sterilization. Since, various organizations and institutions (such as AAMI and AAAASF) have offered recommendations, including the introduction of the term "Immediate Use Sterilization."

"Some habits die hard, but healthcare professionals should be making a concerted effort to use the term 'immediate-use sterilization' instead of 'flash sterilization' to describe a quick turnaround of an instrument, but more importantly, facilities must know when and why this approach should or should not be taken. This article is a review of the protocol and the reasoning behind it related to fast sterilization of a surgical instrument..."

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