Assessing the Validity of the Storage of Sterilized Surgical Instruments Steam under Pressure

The chronological order of validity of sterile material is indicative adopted by hospitals for the use of hospital instruments after sterilization, intending to maintain sterility and to ensure the environmental conditions of storage, handling, and transportation. This study aimed to evaluate the sterility validity of surgical instruments stored in the sterilization center regarding the feasibility of their safe use over time. Fifteen surgical forceps were sterilized in aseptic (surgical grade) paper and polypropylene blankets packaging and stored in the arsenal of a large hospital. The materials were tested monthly in a laminar flow cabinet to test how long the surgical instruments remained sterile. Sterility tests showed no gram-positive or gram-negative bacterial or fungal microbiological growth from any of the samples evaluated according to storage time (30, 60, 90, and 120 days). Sterile instruments can be safely used for up to 120 days, thus saving costs by avoiding the repacking of those items.