17 March 2024>: Lab/In Vitro Research
Analysis of Wet Pack Incidence in Steam Sterilization: A Study in a Chinese Medical Center
Yanhua Chen 12BEF* , Li Bao 3BC* , Liangying Yi 12AG* , Ruixue Hu 12CDDOI: 10.12659/MSM.942601
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942601
Table 1 Single-factor analysis of factors associated with wet pack occurrence after steam sterilization.
Variable | Description | Wet packs | Non-wet packs | Chi-square (χ2) | P value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather | Sunny | 41 | 1371 | 24.842 | |
Overcast | 24 | 1405 | |||
Rainy | 63 | 1195 | |||
Item in the sterilized pack | Dressing | 22 | 2372 | 92.395 | |
Instrument | 106 | 1599 | |||
Packaging material | Cotton fabrics | 13 | 1442 | 48.230 | |
Non-woven fabrics | 75 | 1306 | |||
Paper-plastic combinations | 40 | 1223 | |||
Whether the pack had been laid flat, leaning at an acute angle, or upright | Flat | 46 | 1842 | 8.922 | 0.012 |
Acute angle | 51 | 1119 | |||
Upright | 31 | 1010 | |||
Person responsible for sterilization | Nurse | 25 | 662 | 0.727 | 0.394 |
Non-nurse healthcare worker | 103 | 3309 | |||
Sterilizer used for sterilization of packs | No. 1 | 34 | 1116 | 0.146 | 0.702 |
No. 2 | 94 | 2855 | |||
Placement of the pack on the top or bottom shelf inside the sterilizer chamber | Top shelf | 34 | 2211 | 42.436 | < 0.001 |
Bottom shelf | 94 | 1760 | |||
Whether the pack had been loaded in compliance with guidelines? | Yes | 37 | 1442 | 2.950 | 0.086 |
No | 91 | 2529 | |||
Whether the item had been packaged in compliance with guidelines? | Yes | 82 | 3540 | 75.877 | |
No | 46 | 431 | |||
Cooling time after sterilization | ≥30 min | 46 | 2723 | 60.252 | |
82 | 1248 |