Loaner instruments must be decontaminated before what action?

Loaner instruments must be decontaminated before using them to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare personnel. When loaner instruments arrive from a manufacturer or another facility, they may carry pathogens or contaminants that pose a risk of infection. Proper decontamination removes these potential hazards, allowing the instruments to be safely utilized in surgical procedures or other patient care activities.

Before any instruments are used in a clinical setting, they must be free from microorganisms and bioburden to minimize the risk of surgical site infections or cross-contamination. Decontaminating these instruments is a critical step in maintaining asepsis and adhering to infection control protocols.

While returning them to storage, conducting inspections, and cleaning them are important steps in the lifecycle of medical instruments, they can only occur after the instruments have been properly decontaminated. Decontamination is the foundational step that must precede all others related to the use and management of loaner instruments.