Modelling and optimizing the decontamination process of surgical instruments

England, Tracey, Behrens, Doris A., Davies, Thomas and Gartner, Daniel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4361-8559 2025. Modelling and optimizing the decontamination process of surgical instruments. Wickramasinghe, Nilmini, ed. Impact of Digital Solutions for Improved Healthcare Delivery, IGI Global, pp. 147-166. (10.4018/979-8-3693-5237-3.ch005)

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Abstract

In the age of multi-resistant bacteria and viruses, sterilizing surgical instruments effectively and efficiently impacts hospital-acquired infections. In a hospital sterilization and decontamination unit (HSDU), contaminated equipment arrives after their use in the operating theatre, intensive care unit, diagnostics facilities, and wards. Items are unpacked, checked, inventoried, washed, dried and packed. Each activity requires resources and inefficient management can lead to increasing lead times for items to be processed and, thus, poses an increased risk of hospital-acquired infections. A simulation model was developed for the National Health Service in the U.K. Data relating to staffing levels and machine availability has been collected and the arrival patterns of items are considered. A heuristic simulation-optimization approach was employed to produce an improved staffing pattern that meets the required service level. Furthermore, the output ensures that instruments are processed within a 5-hour target time and is developed and applied to real-world scenarios.

Item Type:	Book Section
Status:	Published
Schools:	Mathematics
Publisher:	IGI Global
ISBN:	9798369352373
ISSN:	2327-9354
Last Modified:	08 Nov 2024 11:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/173761

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