Effectiveness of Rotating Stringer in Sterilization Process

Abstract

               One of the major problems of the surgical instruments in steam sterilization is having instruments in a locked position.This is where the tips are not separated from each other and steam cannot contact all surfaces of the instruments.Although the various types of surgical stringers are usedto hold the surgical instruments in an open position,they differ in locking designs and are inconvenient to lock and release stringers in the sterile containers.To overcome these limitations,this study aimed to design and develop an innovative Rotating Stringer,anew locking system,and evaluate its efficacy.The study design follows the steam sterilization guideline that the tips must be separated by using a rotating mechanism to design the new locking system.For the efficacy evaluation,purposive sampling was with45Thai perioperative nurses in Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok,Thailand who examined the Rotating Stringer in sterile instrument containers for five surgeries.At the end ofthe fifth use,they were asked to complete the Rotating Stringer Problem Record and the Rotating Stringer Effectiveness Scale which were used to test the structural design and function of the Rotating Stringer.The data collected from February to May 2019.Descriptive statistics were then used to analyze the data.
                   Results indicated that there were no problems reported in the use of the Rotating Stringer in 135 different surgeries.According toall participants’opinions,the overall effectiveness ofthe instrument was highly ratedon function,usability,and safety.The Rotating Stringer regulates the instrument tips in separation following sterilization guidelines for patient safety.It is convenient touse in a sterile container and protects wrist injury.The Rotating Stringer has now been patented for use in practice.