Excuse my ignorance. We are receiving wet bowls in theatre. (they have absorbent towels between the bowls). My concern is the sterility of the items. I am looking for possible cures to the problem and guidelines on the handling of damp/wet items once they have been opened onto the surgical field in theatre. The standards we work by say that anything damp is unsterile but we have another standard that states it is the practitioner who has to make the decision whether the item is usable and safe. Any help gratefully received.
Many thanks in advance.

Hi Mike,
May I refer you to question 134?
A partial answer to your question is there.
Regards,
Pete Bobb

Dear Mike

The problem of wet items does occur at one time or another in most CSSD's.
See also answer to question 134 from Pete Bobb.

Whether the moisture of a pack is internal or external, it is a potential pathway for microorganisms to enter. Therefore wet packs should always be rejected.
The question of what action to take can only be resolved by those persons with the final responsibility for the disposition of sterilized items.

If as in your case "only" bowls are wet, and everything else is dry, the isolation of the cause shouldn’t be too difficult. It relies on a basic familiarity with the mechanism of moisture formation and observation of the location as well as on the form in which moisture can occur (i.e., droplets, absorbed, or dispersed moisture), loading pattern, and load density.
It is important that all workers recognize that items not properly prepared, packaged and loaded (bowls, place on their edge) can result in wet packs. A basin Set should not exceed 3 kg (7 pounds) (to limit condensation from the metal surfaces). The absorbent towels between the basins must be fully open and it must be "pie-crust" well into the bottom basin before putting a basin on top. The moisture between them will cling to the inner surface of the bottom basin, and the towel will absorb it for more efficient drying.
I hope with a cooperative effort your problem can be solved in no time.

Kind regards
Josy Holdener

Reference: Sterilization Technology, Marimargaret Reichert, Jack H. Young / Aspen Publication