1. DECONTAMINATION:
POINT OF USE PREPARATION &
TRANSPORT
CHAPTER
8

2. OBJECTIVES:
As a result of successfully completing this
chapter, readers will be able to:
 Review the three priority goals of soiled
item transport
 Identify the sources of contaminated items
 Explain point-of-use preparation
procedures

3. OBJECTIVES:
 Review basic procedures to transport soiled
items from user areas to the Central Service
decontamination area.
 Discuss safety guidelines for transporting soiled
items to the Central Service decontamination
area.
 Provide basic sources for education and training
information applicable to the transport of
contaminated items.

4. R
EUSABLE
EQ
UIPM
EN
T,
IN
STR
UM
EN
TS, AN
D
UTEN
SILS
M
UST
BE
SAFELY
TRANSPORTED
FROM
PATIENT
ACRE
AND
TREATM
ENT
AREAS
TO
THE
CENTRAL
SERVICE
DECONTAM
INATION
AREA.

5. GOALS OF SOILED ITEM
TRANSPORT:
Prepare contaminated
items so they will not
be damaged after use
or before return to
the Central Service
decontamination area

6. GOALS OF SOILED ITEM
TRANSPORT:
To transport soiled
items without cross-
contaminating the
environment
between point-of-
use and the
decontamination
area

7. GOALS OF SOILED ITEM
TRANSPORT:
To assure that all
individuals who may
come in contact with
contaminated items
remain safe during the
transport process

8. SOURCES OF CONTAMINATED
ITEMS:
Surgery (largest volume)
Labor and Delivery
Emergency Services
Cardiac Catherization Lab
Endoscopy
…any patient care and treatment
area.

9. METHODS OF
TRANSPORT
Lifts, elevators, or
dumbwaiters
dedicated to
soiled item
transport
Covered Transport
Carts
Hand delivery by
employees of the
user department

10. USER
DEPARTMENTSShould have dedicated
holding areas to hold
items until they are
picked up by Central
Service staff
Those areas should be
marked with Biohazard
Signs

11. INSTRUMENT DECONTAMINATION
BEGINS AT POINT OF USE

12. REASONS FOR
POINT-OF-USE
PREPARATION
Point-of-use preparation
helps prolong
instrument life
If soil is allowed to dry
on instruments it is
much more difficult to
remove

13. POINT-OF-USE
GUIDELINES• Remove Gross Soil.
• Follow manufacturer’s
instructions for point of use
cleaning.
• Keep soiled instruments moist.
• Remove disposable components
and dispose of properly.
• Put sharps in sharps
containers, etc.

14. GROSS SOIL
Tissue, body
fat, blood,
and other
body
substances

15. POINT-OF-USE
GUIDELINES• Separate reusable linen and place in an appropriate
container.
• Empty fluids from reusable containers or remove
disposable containers and dispose of according to policy.
• Separate reusable sharps from other instruments.
• Keep items together.
• Notify Central Service if items need repair, tag them so
they can be removed from the system for refurbishing or
repair.

16. TRANSPORT SOILED ITEMS IN
COVERED CONTAINERS OR CARTS

17. TRANSPORT
CARTS
If the same carts are used to
transport soiled items to
the decontamination area
and return clean items to
user units, they must be
decontaminated between
uses

18. TRANSPORT
SAFETYConsider all used items as
contaminated
Wear appropriate PPE if you are going
to handle contaminated items. items
Maintain control of transport carts at
all times and be careful near doors,
elevators, and hallway intersections
where accidents may occur
Hallway mirrors
can help reduce
“blind spots”

19. EDUCATION
Everyone who has contact with
contaminated items must
understand the dangers
associated with the transport
of biohazard items

20. CONCLUSIONPoint-of-use instrument preparation requires a partnership between
Central Service and user departments.
Good work practices can protect patients, visitors, and healthcare
workers.