Is stainless steel really "stainless"?
Porteous, J.
Canadian Operating Room Nursing Journal 29(2): 26; 28-32
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 0712-6778 PMID: 21823503 Document Number: 655292
Initial purchase and replacement costs for surgical instrumentation are significant components in today's operating room budgets. OR staff and medical device reprocessing personnel work together as a team to ensure effective management of this valuable commodity. The purpose of this article is to discuss the composition of stainless steel surgical instruments, to identify processes to minimize damage to instruments caused by staining, corrosion, and pitting, and to utilize that information to describe effective measures to manage instrumentation in both the OR and reprocessing areas.