N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43G-8.7

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 8:43G-8.7 - Use and sterilization of patient care items

(a) Patient care items shall be scrupulously cleaned to sterilization or disinfection. The selection and use of disinfection and/or sterilization methods for patient care items or equipment shall be divided into the following three categories:

1. Critical items are objects that enter sterile tissue or the vascular system. These instruments other than scopes must be sterilized by a process that can demonstrate a sterility assurance level of 10[-6].

2. Semicritical items are objects which come into contact with mucous membranes or with skin that is not intact. Semicritical items require high level disinfection or intermediate level disinfection. (At a minimum, the disinfectant must be labeled as tuberculocidal.)

3. Noncritical items are objects that come in contact with intact skin, but not with mucous membranes. Noncritical items require intermediate level disinfection or low level disinfection.

(b) Laparoscopes, arthroscopes, and other scopes that enter normally sterile areas of the body shall be sterilized or given high-level disinfection after each use according to manufacturers' written recommendations or according to policy established by the hospital's infection control committee.

(c) Reusable linens shall be inspected and delineated in a segregated room with adequate ventilation to prevent excess dust and lint accumulation.

1. An illuminated worktable shall be provided to examine linen used for wrapping sterile supplies for tears, pinholes, and other defects.

2. Reusable linens shall be repaired using a heat patch machine.

(d) Flash sterilization and peracetic acid processes are considered just in time sterilization processes. ("Just in time" means for immediate use only.)

1. Flash sterilization should be used for emergency situations only.

2. All items that are flash sterilized shall be thoroughly cleaned and decontaminated prior to sterilization.

3. All items in each flash sterilization cycle shall be documented.

(e) The efficacy of chemicals used for high-level disinfection shall be verified by the use of a test method specific to the chemical if a valid and reliable test method is available and feasible for use in a hospital setting.

(f) There shall be a system for monitoring the processing of all equipment and instruments in the hospital for adherence to central service policies and procedures.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:43G-8.7

Amended by R.1992 d.72, effective 2/18/1992.
See: 23 N.J.R. 2590(a), 24 N.J.R. 590(a).
Text on sterilization procedures added at (c) and (d).
Amended by R.2004 d.302, effective 8/2/2004.
See: 35 New Jersey Register 2847(a), 35 New Jersey Register 3782(a), 36 New Jersey Register 3538(a).
Rewrote the section.