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AAAASF emphasizes need for weekly spore testing

Ambulatory Safety Monitor, September 29, 2005

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The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), reacting to an industry-wide push for the reduction of infections stemming from improperly sterilized equipment, is stressing the importance of weekly spore tests.

The AAAASF's Standard 220-040 mandates "a weekly spore test is performed and the results filed for each autoclave," a recommendation the association says conforms with recommendations from such organizations as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, and many insurance companies.

"We recognize that our Gold Standard of 100% compliance may seem overly stringent at times, but healthcare professionals should not compromise on patient safety," said James A. Yates, MD, president of AAAASF, in a press release.

"While it may seem unrealistic to smaller facilities, like fertility clinics that make less frequent use of the autoclave, to conform with the standard, the AAAASF Board has continually supported strict regulations to verify that every facility's sterilization process is destroying microorganisms and spores," Yates said.

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