(Lack of) care for sterilized healthcare products during transport to and storage in inpatient units

Abstract

Cross-sectional descriptive study with a quantitative approach, whose objectives were to identify those responsible for the care of sterilized healthcare products after their distribution to inpatient units, structural and material resources available for transportation and storage, and to describe the care given to transport and storage of sterilized healthcare products in inpatient units, and the occurrence of events related to these products. Data were collected by checklist in a large teaching hospital from July to September 2012, completed by direct observation and interviews with nursing managers. After descriptive analysis, none of the 11 units met all recommendations concerning the structure, material resources or work processes for the transport and storage of sterilized healthcare products. Events related revealed lack of care of the healthcare teams in the units, and consequent risk to maintaining product sterility and patient safety.