Decentralization has resulted in the loss of trained, skilled and experienced supervision for the sterilization process. The alternative processes are shorter in cycle time but at a price. Outside of central service, few, if any, personnel receive training in the entire sterilization process. Consequently, the potential for error in reprocessing medical devices is very high. The standard of performance by workers varies greatly throughout the hospital.
Many administrators seem to think that reprocessing single-use devices is a good economic move.
However, their decentralized operations are doing a poor job of reprocessing reusable medical devices. If the costs associated with providing qualified, trained and competent personnel were evaluated, and actually applied, the decision to reprocess single-use devices would not be as clear. I would mandate the adoption and use of ISO11134 for both hospitals and industry. It deals with steam supply. If you talk to people in U.S. hospitals, one of the biggest complaints is an ongoing incidence of wet packs.