Sterilisation Pouches

Sterilisation pouches are single-use, peel-open pouches designed to hold items during sterilisation. Not all pouch materials are suitable for use in all types of sterilisation processes, so different pouches are required depending on the sterilisation processes available. Plastic/paper pouches are used for steam sterilisation. The plastic side of the pouch allows clear visualisation of the contents and the chemical indicator. The paper side allows air removal and the sterilant to enter the pouch.

Recommended use

Sterilisation pouches are recommended for smaller, lightweight, low profile items. They are available in various sizes and configurations to enclose loose groups of instruments and offer various types of built-in chemical indicators. If an instrument appears to be too heavy or large for a pouch, another packaging method should be used.

Sterilisation pouches have four primary objectives:

1. They must allow penetration of the chosen sterilant and be compatible with any other requirements of the sterilisation process.
2. They must be able to maintain the sterility of package contents until opened.
3. They must create a package that can be opened without contaminating the contents by the user.
4. They must permit the contents to be sterile at the point of use.

Pouches should also be “tamper-evident” so that a pouch opened in error cannot be resealed without complete reprocessing.

Choosing a sterilisation pouch

When choosing a sterilisation pouch, look for the following features:

• The use of medical-grade Kraft paper.
• The use of a transparent polypropylene/polyester laminate film that is at least 2 mm thick.
• Adequate sizing to accommodate instruments to be sterilised without crowding.

It is important to choose sterilisation pouches made from medical-grade paper rather than from recycled paper. Medical-grade Kraft paper used in sterilisation pouches has a basic weight of 40-60 pounds. It contains only approved additives, has controlled porosity and has no pinholes larger than 0.5 mm. These factors are critical to ensuring that steam enters and exits the pouch only through the paper side and that the pores close during the drying process to maintain the sterility of the pouch contents.

Additional considerations may include:

• Ease of use
• Ease of storage
• Cost effectiveness
• Puncture and tear resistance
• Toxic ingredients or non-fast dyes?
• Non linting material

Selecting pouch size

It is important to select the appropriate pouch size. A pouch should be large enough to allow the contents to move from side-to-side without compromising the seams or risking punctures. A pouch that is too small may also cause overcrowding that prevents adequate steam penetration and air removal, which could affect drying of instruments. Conversely, a pouch that is too large may allow excessive movement of the instruments that results in punctures and tearing. For that reason, it is a good idea to have a variety of pouch sizes on hand.

Loading a sterilisation pouch

To load a sterilisation pouch, the pouch should be laid flat on a countertop and the instruments should be arranged in a single layer with at least ¼ of an inch of clearance on each side for package contraction and proper circulation.

To allow easy removal and ensure aseptic presentation of the instruments when opening the pouch, position instruments in the pouch as follows:

• Place instruments with handles toward the pre-sealed end of the pouch.
• Single-ended instruments should be positioned in a pouch with the handle/grasp or nonworking end toward the thumb notch and away from the adhesive-sealed end.
• Hinged instruments should be placed in an open position.
• Curved instruments should be placed with the curved end toward the plastic side of the pouch to avoid punctures though the paper side.
• On instruments with sharp tips, use clear-vented tip protectors to prevent punctures through the pouch.

 Sealing a sterilisation pouch

Before sealing, excess air should be removed from the pouch. Sterilisation pouches are either self-sealing or manually heat-sealed. When using a self-sealing pouch, it is important to carefully follow the fold lines provided by the manufacturer to prevent overlapping and small openings between the package and the sealant. Also, the seal’s fold should be free of wrinkles or creases.

When manually sealing a pouch, ensure that there is ample space at the end of pouch for users to use their thumb to open the package and present its contents aseptically to the sterile field. This will prevent the contamination of the pouch contents during delivery.

When using a heat-sealed pouch, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, including proper temperature ranges.

Loading pouches into a steriliser

When placing loaded and sealed pouches in the steriliser, it is important to ensure that they do not overlap. Ideally, pouches should be placed on their edges on a rack to allow 360-degree circulation and penetration of steam and accelerate drying. To prevent tearing, pouches should not be touched until they are completely dry.

Pouch labeling

At a minimum, sterile pouches should be labeled with the following information: steriliser used, cycle/load number, date of sterilisation and expiration date if applicable.

To write on pouches, be sure to use only non-toxic permanent markers approved for the sterilisation process (ASTM D4236) and to write only on the plastic laminate of the pouch, as writing on the paper could compromise the integrity of the pouch.

Chemical indicators

International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards for sterilisation packaging performance stipulate that the only way to be sure an item has been effectively steam-sterilised is to expose it to all three sterilisation variables: time, temperature and the presence of steam. However, many sterilisation pouches only have an external Type 1 process indicator that only validates exposure to heat (temperature). More advanced pouches, like Medicom SafeSeal® Quattro self-sealing sterilisation pouches, have both internal and external multiparameter indicators, which confirm that all three criteria for sterilisation have been achieved and that the contents have been exposed to the critical variables.

Storing sterilised pouches

Proper storage and handling of processed pouches is necessary to maintain the sterility of their contents. Storage room temperature should range from 18°C -22°C or less with a relative humidity ranging from 35%-68%.

The AS/NZS 4187:2003 recommends that sterile instruments and supplies be stored in clean, dry, dust-free, dedicated containers/ drawers to protect them from environmental contamination. Pouches should be inspected before opening and use to ensure that the packaging has not been compromised (i.e., wet, torn, or punctured) during storage.

Shelf life of processed pouches

The shelf life of a processed sterilisation pouch is event-related, not time-related, and depends on proper handling and storage. It also depends on the quality of the pouch material, the conditions under which the pouch is stored and the amount of handling. A sterile product will remain sterile if the packaging does not become wet, torn, soiled or damaged.

It is important to note that all sterilisation pouches list a manufacturer’s materials expiration date and may also list a shelf-life date. For example, a pouch may have a three-year from date of manufacture expiration date and a two-year expiration from date of sterilisation. This information is critical to stock rotation and a using sterilisation pouch past its expiration date is considered off-label use.