Factors Affecting Implementation and Pass Rates of Moistening Surgical Instruments

Abstract Background: Under influences of count, handover, transport and other procedures, surgical instruments might not be cleaned immediately after use, and they were not kept moist before cleaning, which allowed contaminants to dry on the instruments and become difficult to remove. Therefore, surgical instruments should be kept moist immediately after use. However, implementation and pass rates of moistening surgical instruments have been rarely studied. We aimed to investigate the factors affecting implementation and pass rates of moistening surgical instruments.Methods: We carried out on-site investigations for keeping surgical instruments moist at the 22 clinical departments using reusable surgical instruments in August 2019 in the West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University. During the investigations, the survey utilising an interviewer-administrated questionnaire was conducted among nurses and workers from the 22 clinical departments. Data about implementation and pass rates of moistening surgical instruments was analysed in SPSS20.0.Results: Implementation and pass rates of moistening surgical instruments were 57.49% and 31.98%, respectively. Factor analysis showed that implementation rates of moistening were affected by instrument structure (χ2 = 143.670; P = 0.001), the number of instruments inside the pack (χ2 = 140.135; P = 0.001), and the person responsible for keeping surgical instruments moist (χ2 = 8.052; P = 0.005). Correlation analysis showed that instrument structure and the number of instruments inside the pack were negatively correlated with implementation rates of moistening. The more complex the structure and the greater the number of the instruments inside the pack, the lower implementation rates of moistening surgical instruments.Conclusion: Implementation and pass rates of moistening surgical instruments were low, which meant that moistening failed to meet the applicable industrial standard for central sterile supply department and there was a potential risk of hospital-acquired infection. It was necessary to provide more training about keeping surgical instruments moist for nurses and workers of the clinical departments, and regulate the procedure of keeping surgical instruments moist.