Best practices for transport and storage of sterile items Contamination, damage, and tampering all pose significant risks, from punctures and moisture to microorganisms and vermin. To minimize these risks, here are some best practices: During transport: • Use sterile barrier systems (e.g., rigid containers, sterilization wrap) in covered carts or bins with solid bottoms. • Clean and disinfect transport tools after use. • For off-site transport, vehicles should maintain sterility, feature cleanable surfaces, environmental controls, and separate sterile from contaminated items. For storage: • Ensure items are placed in controlled environments with restricted access to limit exposure to moisture, dust, vermin, and regulate temperature, humidity, and airflow. • Access to the sterile supply area should be limited to authorized personnel. A Guidelines in Practice article published in AORN Journal provides an overview of the AORN “Guideline for sterilization” and discusses recommendations for selection of a processing method, transport and storage of sterile items, steam sterilization, and quality. 💡 https://aornjournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aorn.14316 Does your organization follow best practices? Let’s open the floor—drop your experiences, insights, or tips below! ⬇️ #AORNJournal #PerioperativeCare #Nurse #Nurses #Nurselife #Nursing #ORNurse #PerioperativeNurse #SterileProcessing (fb)

The May issue of the AORN Journal is here, and it is packed with 4.8 CH! 🔍 What’s Inside: ✅ The Association Between OR Traffic and Airborne Microbial Counts During Two Types of Abdominal Surgeries ✅ Guidelines in Practice: Implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery ✅ Maintaining Perioperative Normothermia in Patients Undergoing Ambulatory Surgery Also in this issue: 💡 Speaking Up: Preventing a Surgical Site Fire 💡Back to Basics 2.0: Team Communication 💡 Guideline First Look: Guideline for Pneumatic Tourniquet Let us know which articles you are most looking forward to reading below. 👇🏽 🧑🏽‍💻https://aornjournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/18780369/2025/121/2 Not a member? Join today and get full access to the AORN Journal. https://www.aorn.org/membership/join Cover Photo Caption: The optimal location of the tourniquet cuff is influenced by patient factors, the specific procedure, and the manufacturer’s written instructions for use. #AORNJournal #ORNurse #Nursing #NurseLife #Nurses #Nurse #ORLife (fb)