Steam quality monitoring as a strategy to reduce wet packs and sterilization failure

• Published in: American journal of infection control 2024-11, Vol.52 (11), p.1314-1319
• Main Authors: Miguel, Emerson Aparecido, Dos Santos, Fernanda Patrícia, Laranjeira, Paulo Roberto, Ishii, Marina, Pinto, Terezinha de Jesus Andreoli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Noncondensable gases; Saturated steam; Steam condensate
• ISSN: 0196-6553; 1527-3296; 1527-3296
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.07.002

Hospital articles processed by steam are widely used in the Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD), responsible for due sterilization. Steam sterilization is discussed worldwide, aiming to protect patients. If steam is outside the specified requirements, the sterilization process may fail, resulting in the wet packs at the end of the sterilization cycle. The present study evaluated the steam quality at Santa Catarina Hospital (São Paulo, SP, Brazil) from 2016 to 2022. Saturated steam containing noncondensable gases, excess condensate, or even superheat was characterized using the methodology indicated in the European Standard EN 285:2015. From 2016 to 2020, qualification tests showed that the saturated steam quality does not achieve standard limit parameters. Infrastructural maintenance actions were taken to adjust the saturated steam quality. In 2021, the steam quality followed technical standards, and its adequacy was confirmed in 2022. The points developed by the hospital's maintenance department, the adoption of appropriate devices for this purpose, and the correct preventive maintenance in the autoclaves, together with the correct qualification of the equipment and proof of the steam quality, contributed to improve the safety of the hospital sterilization process and reduce the incidence of wet packages. [Display omitted] •Steam quality directly influences the sterilization process.•Steam must be free of condensate, noncondensable gases, and cannot superheat.•Poor steam causes sterilization failures and wet packs.