EWWWW, something doesn't seem right to me here!!

I have a question, I posted this in emerency section, and many of the replies came back as to contact infection control so I would like to post this question to all infection control nurses.

In ER yesterday, we had to intubate a patient. anyway, ater all was said and done, I called to have the blades sent for sterilization so I cuold get the crash cart put back in order. Central sterile said that they don't sterilize the blades. The ER nurses are supposed to wash them with SOAP and WATER??!

What are your thoughts on this? Isn"t it a ?? One nurse said to me, "Oh it's just the mouth, everbodys mouths are dirty." But I view this as using the same yankauer on each patient as long as you use soap and water between.. Just seems NASTY!!

b eyes