Staining Surgical Instruments
What causes blue stains on surgical instruments.
Dried blood or debris
Cold disinfecting and/or sterilizing solutions
Mixing dissimilar metals
Surgical Wraps
Solutions should be changed frequently, as corrosion may otherwise occur.
What does not cause brown stains on surgical instruments.
High alkaline detergent
Exposure to ammonia
Iodine or Betadine residue
Surgical wraps
Brown stains are probably the result of oxidation and should not be confused with rust.
These defects look like black holes on the surface of the instrument.
Rust
Pitting
It is a highly localized corrosion of stainless steel which results in shallow to deep localized defects.
What causes black stains on surgical instruments.
Exposure to ammonia
Saline solutions
High alkaline detergent
Mixing dissimilar metals
When possible, avoid using cleaning agents with ammonia, and always rinse instruments thoroughly.
What causes rust on surgical instruments.
Cold disinfecting and/or sterilizing solutions
Mixing dissimilar metals
Surgical Wraps
Oxidation
Do not allow instruments to soak in blood or moisture for extended lengths of time.
Maximum time recommended for surgical instrument to soak in cleaning solutions.
10 minutes
20 minutes
30 minutes
40 minutes
Rinse thoroughly with distilled/demineralized water.
Rainbow multicolored stains on surgical instruments.
Exposure to ammonia
Oxidation
Saline solutions
Exposure to excessive heat
When the instrument displays these heat stains, it may have lost part of its original hardness and may not perform as well.
If the discoloration is removed with the eraser and the metal underneath is smooth and clean, the stain usually points to.
Rust
Orange/brown staining
Brown staining
Pitting
If pitting is observed (i.e., small divets in the metal under the discoloration), this can contribute to rust.
Which of the following will increase the chance of rust forming on instruments.
Checking water quality
Using a neutral pH detergent
Allowing instruments to dry thoroughly
Dried blood or debris
To avoid discoloration of the instruments in these systems, it is important to ensure that alkalinity is being properly neutralized.
Pitting removes part of the passivation layer, which leads to trapped bio-burden, biofilm, and eventually rust.
True
False
Pitting is erosion (corrosion) of an instrument’s outer surface, which renders it beyond repair.
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