Monitoring the cleanliness of reusable surgical instruments in central sterile supply department by adenosine triphosphate method.

Background Cleaning is very important in reusable surgical instruments (RSI) reprocessing. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) method is widely used for cleanliness assessing while few studies focused on using this method on RSIs. Objective To assess the effectiveness of ATP Bioluminescence Assay for monitoring the cleanliness of RSIs. Methods The study conducted in three central sterile supply departments (CSSD) from 2015 to 2020, surgical scissors, haemostatic forceps, and other non-lumen instruments after cleaning were sampled. Each instrument was swabbed in a uniform manner on the surface including hinged joints and teeth, the amount of ATP (amol) was calculated. Results A total of 871 RSIs after cleaning were tested, the mean ATP lg (amol) was 2.829 ± 0.539 and the qualified rate was 80.57%. Washer-disinfector cleaning was more efficiency than manual cleaning, the mean ATP lg (amol) were 2.776 ± 0.513 and 2.948 ± 0.575, respectively; the qualified rates were 84.97% and 70.59%, respectively. The qualified rate was decreased with the time of instruments after cleaning exploring to environment increased (P trend = 0.044). Conclusion ATP level are stable and repeatable for continuous monitoring the cleanliness of RSIs, it is a rapid and viable method for assessing the cleanliness of RSIs. Washer-disinfector cleaning is recommended and cleaned instruments should go on packing for sterilization in time. Highlights - ATP method is viable for assessing the cleanliness of reusable surgical instruments in CSSDs.- Reusable surgical instruments suggested washer-disinfector cleaning and should go on packing for sterilization in time.