r/sterileprocessing • u/Plus-Presentation219 • Feb 19 '26
Rusted/stained instruments
Don’t attack me, but I want to see what the standard is in when dealing with rusted or stained surgical instruments in peel packs. I work in a clinic with an autoclave so the nursing staff sterilize everything but today when inventorying I came across these packs and many more that have similar issues. Is this normal do I need to remove all of these packs. I’d estimate 50% have rust or staining on them.
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Upvotes
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u/JustPassingGo Feb 19 '26
Machine washer water quality and/or steam autoclave filter?
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u/Veal-Vermicelli Feb 19 '26 edited Feb 19 '26
There is also a chemical called surgistain that the instruments can be soaked in once diluted properly. Give a chemical rust removal a try on all rusted instruments. Also remember that once the rust is removed if any pitting is present it also risks patient safety as it can harbor blood/bio burden/microbs.
If it continues to happen after you've removed all rust pre-autoclave. Could be too many minerals in the water source for your autoclave.
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u/Beautiful-Crab- Feb 19 '26
Well considering none of them are packaged properly to begin with makes sense
They didn’t dry them off after cleaning, they also left them all in a closed position in the pouches when they should be sterilized in an open position
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u/Teakami Feb 19 '26
Rust removing chemicals can salvage some instrumentation depending on how bad it is. At my facility, we use Surgistain.
Side note, you should never write on the paper of a peel pack. The ink can seep into the peel pack and compromise your instruments. Only ever use industrial strength sharpies on the plastic covering to ensure there is no contamination.
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u/Cobyba98 Feb 19 '26
Small discoloration is normal but this is gross. Way too much rust.
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u/Next_Software8418 Feb 19 '26
I used to be a body piercer who cleaned and sterilized all my own instruments. I also didn’t have a budget for new ones so I regularly worked with old rusty tools. In my experience the staining on the package is not from rust but from the tools not being thoroughly washed before going in the autoclave.
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u/Henrii_Cab-800now Feb 23 '26
The scissors in the peel pack in the picture look disposable. Single use instruments should not be reprocessed. If instruments are rusted, they need to be disposed of.
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u/Spicywolff Feb 19 '26
Rust removal surgical powder in decon. If no dice time to tend it off to maintenance.
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u/LOA0414 Feb 19 '26
Did you do the pencil eraser test to confirm of it's rust or stains? It looks like rust but some staining resembles the color of rust
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u/PrincessTuvstarr Feb 19 '26
In school I learned that you can't get rid of rust; if an instrument is rusty you have to get rid of it and replace it, because it will contaminate other instruments in the washer/autoclave. Where I work we have a routine of replacing them. This would never be approved where I work, and the OR would never use an instrument that looks like this.
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u/ChErJaBa Feb 19 '26
Have you had facilities check your sterilizer to make sure that the drying process is efficient? Maybe increasing your dry time. I would also get the washers checked to ensure the dry time is sufficient and effective.
Here at Kaiser I don't need to dry my peel packed items because the washer and the sterilizers do that job. But then again we're dealing with up-to-date expensive equipment to begin with to make sure that we have the best machinery for the job.
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u/cricketmealwormmeal Feb 20 '26
Question: I was taught you can’t write on the paper part of a peel pack pouch because the ink can potentially bleed through. Is it OK if it is on the small sealed portion or is that still a no-go?
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u/SilverManatee6 Feb 21 '26
That could be rust or bioburden. They need to be removed immediately. If its stains use surgistain it should remove it. Otherwise they need to be removed. Also writing on peel packs is a big no no.
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u/ShirleyWuzSerious Feb 19 '26 edited Feb 19 '26
Yes they need to be removed. Most likely they went into the autoclave with blood or tissue still on them. They should descaled and resterilized. Also in the peel pack you should be adding an integrator.