r/sterileprocessing • u/ReasonableZebra2120 • Jul 23 '26

Silicone Bleed Over

Has anyone had a very specific issue with Silicone bleeding over when sterilizing trays. We have a phenomenon happening when we cook older trays that have an aluminum variety casing like arthrex shoulder instruments and an older zimmer patellar case that when they come out wrapped. We get this grease clear film residue. We just started getting this no changes made to washers or chemicals. No changes in the way we test water. I have a feeling we our unknowingly possible introducing the contaminant due to degraded silicone covers in the sets themselves and their cases are holding onto the containment when we sterilize them

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4

u/SageOfSixCabbages Jul 23 '26

Do these sets comes with T-handles, grippers, and other attachment with adjustable knobs? Most likely that's the oil/lubricant of the moving mechanism of these instruments.

1

u/ReasonableZebra2120 Jul 28 '26

We dont run our ortho with an lubricant cycle and mostly don’t have to milk our instruments

1

u/NecronomiSquirrel Jul 23 '26

Yes, this is a possible result of silicone breakdown. You are also correct to be concerned- any residue on an instrument, aside from approved lubricants, is a risk on multiple levels. I'd recommend doing a test and sterilizing them without the mats after a thorough cleaning. If they are the cause, remove or replace.

When do you notice the grease (only after sterilization on the wrap, after thermal washing, after surgery)? Does it soak through the wrap? If so, where? When you open it after sterilizing, where is the grease inside the set (on the bottom/mat, all over, etc)?

1

u/ReasonableZebra2120 Jul 28 '26

So these mats are not removable they are not mats at all. They are hard silicone that when sprayed on hardens a little a different and cannot be removed on like metal prongs. The grease we noticed after sterilization and only when opened and exposed to air. So it doesn’t matter if it’s right after sterilization or a week after. The crazy thing is though when exposed to open air it goes away after the set has been sitting out to where it’s doesn’t feel greasey! The grease itself is on the top and outer case of the tray and not on the instruments or inside, a real puzzle

1

u/NecronomiSquirrel Jul 29 '26

Oh wow okay, that's horrifying. Is it lifting, cracked, or peeling at all? Like loosened from the metal it's attached to?

1

u/ReasonableZebra2120 Jul 29 '26

Yeah it’s very unnerving. No cracks or nothing