Point-of-Use Treatment, Soiled Transport and Sorting

The Critical Role of Point-of-Use Treatment

Point-of-use treatment should occur during a procedure as needed and immediately afterward to prevent soil from drying; thorough cleaning follows in decontamination. The central goal of point-of-use treatment is to prevent blood, bodily fluids, and gross soil from drying on medical devices. Dried blood and organic debris become significantly more difficult to clean and remove compared to moist soil. If soil is allowed to dry, subsequent decontamination becomes harder and slower, and any residual soil left behind will compromise subsequent disinfection or sterilization. Point-of-use treatment supports thorough cleaning in decontamination, which is vital because effective sterilization cannot be assured if soil remains.

Prompt care also prevents biological complications on the surfaces of instruments. Microorganisms can begin adhering to soiled instruments very quickly after a procedure ends. Rapid point-of-use treatment and cleaning help prevent the development of a biofilm. A biofilm is a community of microorganisms enclosed in a self-produced matrix, which makes the microbes much more difficult to remove and significantly less susceptible to disinfectants. Preventing this matrix from forming protects both the instruments and future patients.

Clinical personnel carry out point-of-use treatment by removing gross soil with a water-moistened sponge or cloth in accordance with the device manufacturer's instructions for use (IFU) and facility policy. Instrument lumens should also be flushed when and as directed by the device IFU and facility policy. To keep soil moist during transit, clinical staff may apply a device-compatible point-of-use spray, foam, or gel. When permitted by the device IFU and facility policy, covering instruments with a water-dampened towel is another acceptable method. However, saline must never be used for routine point-of-use moistening or cleaning because its chloride content corrodes metal instruments.

While point-of-use treatment is an essential preliminary step, technicians must remember that it maintains moisture and removes gross debris but does not replace the decontamination process. Furthermore, liquid soaking solutions must not be used to transport soiled items due to the serious risk of liquid spills and splashes to personnel along the transport path.