Surgical instruments vs water quality

Of all surgical instruments used, around 90% will be made from martensitic stainless steel. As a surgical instruments manufacturer, when considering water quality it’s important to remember the elephant in the room - that about 80% of the instruments are compositionally iron based and Iron Ore/Iron oxide is irons most stable state.

When reprocessing surgical instruments, you are washing devices that not only contain iron based but also carbon and chromium. The carbon itself in the stainless steel allows the material to be hardened. The chromium provides corrosion resistance and aids the shiny aesthetic look. During the manufacturing process of surgical instruments we are smelting iron ore to use for our purpose as part of an alloy, so the composition of the steel needs to be respected during washing and reprocessing. 

Iron will naturally want to revert to its most stable state (iron oxide) – and it will take every opportunity to get back to this state, and water of course can facilitate this. Therefore water spotting on instruments – if not dried properly - can cause corrosion. We all have to work together as an industry; chemistry experts, sterile services managers, instrument manufacturers, RO water companies, AEDs to collaborate and educate that if an instrument is not treated properly it will corrode. Similarly, when reprocessing instruments it’s vital to ensure that they are completely dry.