Question

A CST is setting up the back table and Mayo stand while the patient is in the OR, and the anesthesia provider is about to administer general anesthesia. After confirming that the external steam indicator has changed color, the CST places the basin set from the ring stand to the back table and continues moving items to their appropriate place. Just before the patient is anesthetized, the circulator notices water on the inside of the wrap that had been around the basin.

If the indicator is acceptable, are the contents of the basin sterile?

Can the CST simply replace the basin set, or is the entire back table considered contaminated as well?

What are the reporting requirements in this situation?

Answer 1

The indicator generally denotes whether a equipment or a material is sterile or not with its color changes (a change in color indicates it is sterile) but the presence of wetness or water around the basin is a place for microorganisms to breed and cause infection for sure.The reason is water can act as a pathway for the microorganism to grow easily.

As the basin is surrounded by water around it ,placing this on the back table means the water contact now exists with the back table too leading to a source for infection .This creates a situation to change the entire set.In order avoid this the basin has to be kept in its ring stand

Ths reporting requirements are

• It has to be informed to the concerned nurse who is going to assist in surgery with the surgeon
• Inform the supervisor about the incident, because one the procedure is started any events like this are considered to be contaminated.
• To inform