Removing dirty instruments from room to dirty utility room.

[smoddra]

Our wound center uses instruments on almost every pt. They had been keeping the instruments in a bowl under the sinks in the room. I just recently took over as IC and have told them that we can not do that. Their question was how do they remove the instruments from the room where it was used to the dirty utility area since they would be carrying contaminated items in the halls. I had suggested some kind of box or bin that they could be placed in for transport. The staff asked if they could utilize a sharps container or something similar with the soaking solution in it until the end of the day and then remove them from the rooms for cleaning. Any information or thoughts on a solution for this problem?

[Lilredhen1]

We use a stainless steel container with a lid to carry them to another room to be cleaned. I would not at all feel comfortable leaving an unlocked, dirty, sharp instrument in a room that clients could access. Scary.

[smoddra]

Yes, this is one reason why we are now trying to figure out something different. The staff is trying to avoid going to the dirty utility area after every pt. Could they put a second sharps container in the room and use it for instruments if it is properly marked as instruments?