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Sterile processing is critical to infection prevention

Is sterilization in your blind spot?

What's often overlooked can become a source of confidence in your standard of care.

Two surgeons in green scrubs, holding instruments above a draped patient laying down. To the left of the image are three circles. Two green circles have a white check mark. One white circle has a green question mark.
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Sterile processing is critical to Infection Prevention

Infection prevention (IP) professionals know that breaking the chain of infection starts with eliminating risk at every step, yet one area often overlooked is sterile processing. Consistent, effective sterility assurance is the foundation of safe surgical care, and a single failure can lead to patient harm, costly recalls, and procedural delays.

 

Sterility assurance isn’t just a sterile processing department (SPD) responsibility, it’s a shared mission. By understanding sterilization workflows and collaborating with SPDs, IP teams can reduce infection risk, ensure compliance, and strengthen patient safety.

 

Don’t let sterilization become a blind spot. Explore best practices, tools, and resources to make collaboration easier and more effective.

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Image of a scene in the Sterilization Instrument Cycle video. On the left side, a person in green scrubs is looking at two monitors. In the rest of the image, there are two carts and an IV pole. There is a patient laying on an operating room table wearing a green blanket and two operating room lights above. Two surgeons wearing green scrubs are standing behind the patient. The surgeon on the left is holding a scalpel.

Every load monitoring (ELM) benefits

Every Load Monitoring (ELM) is widely regarded by industry experts as the gold standard for sterility assurance. By verifying the effectiveness of every sterilization cycle, infection prevention professionals can be more confident that sterilization isn’t a blind spot for the organization. Watch our on-demand webinar to learn more about how ELM may strengthen your infection prevention strategy.

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Technician holding package in front of shelves next to sterilizer; other technician pushing trolley with packages and containers

Frequently asked questions: IP and SPD

Sterile processing helps ensure surgical instruments are free from microorganisms, reducing the risk of surgical site infections. It’s a key step in breaking the chain of infection and protecting patient safety.

Every Load Monitoring means verifying sterilization effectiveness for every sterilizer cycle, not just periodically. ELM helps prevent recalls, delays, and patient risk by enhancing compliance and confidence in sterility assurance.

IPs can partner with SPD teams by reviewing sterilization protocols and recommended best practices. Collaboration reduces blind spots and strengthens infection prevention programs.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but we strongly recommend healthcare facilities consider using biological indicators (BIs) and chemical indicators (CIs) that have been FDA approved and are certified by an independent third party. 

Only Solventum indicators are backed by BSI Kitemark™ certification, proof our products meet rigorous third-party testing and ISO standards, and validated for compatibility with most sterilizer cycles, brands, and models.

Sterilization failures can lead to instrument recalls, surgical delays, and increased patient risk. Proactive monitoring and validated products help prevent these costly disruptions.

Watch our on-demand webinar, “Driving to Zero: The Rationale for Every Load Monitoring Across Sterilization Modalities,” to learn more about how implementing Every Load Monitoring (ELM) can strengthen your facility’s infection prevention strategy.