FALL IS IN THE AIR – ISSUE NO. 387

Fall may not be my favorite season, but I do enjoy what it has to offer. Watching football, visiting cider mills and having bonfires are among my favorite autumn activities. The temperature has cooled down in Michigan, but it is still warmer than usual. Many people, including myself will go through a period of opening the windows during the day only to close them at night and turn the heat on due to the dramatic change of temperature. Eventually, snow will come and we won't have that issue any longer, because it will be cold all the time. Checking the weather ahead of time during a typical autumn day in Michigan is crucial for survival (Okay, more like comfort). One day it's 70 degrees and the next it's a high of 45 degrees. It can be sweater or shorts/t-shirt weather in a matter of less than 24 hours. Monitoring temperature is a daily challenge when it comes to the sterile processing department. The right temperature is the key to sterilization, effective cleaning, thermal disinfection, proper storage of sterile products, the comfort and efficiency of staff and the safe handling of items that have been exposed to thermal processes (i.e., autoclave racks) to list a few. In order to monitor that the optimal temperature has been reached, we use various tools such as thermometers and indicators. The right temperature is one of the keys to success in sterile processing.