In fact, according to a 2024 report from the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA), there are currently over 6,300 Medicare-certified ASCs, performing more than 22.5 million procedures each year.¹

With such high patient throughput, infection control is not just a nicety; it’s an outright necessity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that on any given day, about 1 in 31 patients in U.S. hospitals has at least one healthcare-associated infection (HAI).² While ASCs often experience lower HAI rates compared to hospitals, they must continue to maintain thorough protocols and exercise continuous improvements to uphold these outstanding safety statistics – particularly as it relates to sterilization practices.

The Importance of Sterilization
Even though ASCs generally boast lower infection rates, their patients are still vulnerable to infections such as surgical site infections (SSIs). According to the Journal of Infection and Public Health, SSIs account for 20 percent of all HAIs in the United States.³ Proper sterilization, swift identification of potential outbreaks and detailed surveillance can help ASCs preserve their nearly negligible rate of SSIs and other HAIs.

Understanding that SSIs can lead to prolonged stays, increased costs, and in severe cases, life-threatening complications, ASCs have implemented robust strategies to combat infections and ensure the safety and success of surgical interventions. Among these strategies, sterilization is one that plays a pivotal role in creating an environment conducive to optimal patient care.

Understanding Sterilization
Sterilization refers to the process of eliminating all forms of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, from surgical instruments, equipment and the surgical environment. It aims to create a sterile environment that minimizes the risk of infections during surgical procedures.⁴

One of the primary objectives of sterilization is to prevent SSIs. Surgical instruments and equipment come into direct contact with the patient’s body during surgery. If they are not properly sterilized, they can introduce harmful microorganisms, leading to postoperative infections. By ensuring thorough sterilization, healthcare professionals can significantly reduce the risk of such infections.

Sterilization Methods & Guidelines
While steam sterilization with an autoclave is the most common method, other options include low-temperature ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma, dry heat and radiation sterilization. The choice of sterilization method depends on the materials being sterilized, the microorganisms targeted and the specific requirements of the medical setting. To ensure the safety of patients and healthcare workers in environments prone to infection risks, sterilization equipment is essential for all healthcare facilities, regardless of their size.⁵

The CDC has issued a list of guidelines that you can follow to help keep your facility sterilized:⁶

• Implement consequences and conduct intensive staff training.
• Compare the reprocessing instructions from both the instrument and sterilizer manufacturers and resolve any discrepancies by communicating with them directly.
• Continuously conduct infection control rounds in high-risk reprocessing areas.
• Ensure reprocessing instructions are current, accurate and properly implemented, while documenting any deviations from policy.
• Document and retain records for each sterilization cycle, including the sterilizer type, cycle used, load identification number, load contents, exposure parameters, operator and monitoring results.
• Prepare and package items for sterilization to ensure sterility is achieved and maintained until the point of use.
• Frequently review policies and procedures for sterilization.
• Guarantee qualified personnel perform preventative maintenance on sterilizers according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Innovatix Can Help
At Innovatix, we understand ASCs are uniquely positioned to lead the way in patient safety and are well prepared to help them ensure their patients receive the safest surgical experiences possible. Our best-in-class portfolio features a variety of suppliers who offer various sterilization products and services – everything from sterilization pouches and wraps to outsourced sterilization services.

One such supplier, Tuttnauer, was recently awarded a Breakthrough Technology contract for its T-Top steam sterilizer. We offer Breakthrough Technology designations to innovations that offer a major advantage in terms of patient safety, clinical outcomes, and operational efficiencies. Tuttnauer’s T-Top steam sterilizer is unique in the marketplace because it can be upgraded from a Class S to Class B/pre- and post-vacuum with a simple software update. Tuttnauer joins Getinge, Skytron, and STERIS in the portfolio. To review our full sterilization portfolio, click here.

Through our parent company, Premier, we also stand ready to help ASCs identify trends and potential outbreaks early with TheraDoc®, our clinical surveillance technology. TheraDoc is supported by our expert Infection Preventionist (IP) Clinical Consultants, who work directly with your clinicians.

We also offer a Remote Surveillance service. Our expert IPs can remotely review your data to help identify and document potential HAIs. In return, your IP staff are provided with actionable data, allowing them to focus more on activities that directly enhance patient care.

Contact us today to learn more about how TheraDoc and our contracted suppliers can help keep your facility safe.