WASHINGTON — A hospital in Fairfax County has repaired or replaced equipment used to sterilize its surgical equipment and hopes to resume using the washers Wednesday night after halting surgeries over concerns about particles found on sterilized surgical tools.
Inova Fairfax Hospital said in an afternoon update that the washing machines used to sterilize the tools were being tested after the emergency repair work.
Hospital officials canceled all elective surgeries on Tuesday because sandlike particles were found on sterilized surgical trays and instruments.
Some surgeries were performed Wednesday morning but the hospital rescheduled afternoon procedures “in an abundance of caution.”
“We are taking a methodological and systematic approach to resuming elective procedures,” a hospital spokeswoman said in a statement to WTOP.
The facility was open for cardiac, trauma, deliveries and any urgent care needs.
The hospital used trays and instruments provided by other Inova facilities for procedures completed on Wednesday.
The sandlike particles were believed to be coming from the sterilization machines, perhaps metal shavings from ball bearings.
Hospital spokeswoman Tracy Connell said the particles pose no risk of infection.
The particles were discovered after the sterilization process and “are sterile, nonprotein, non-biologic,” she said.
Many of Tuesday’s canceled surgeries were performed by other Inova facilities. As many as 150 patients were forced to reschedule their procedures.
WTOP’s Dick Uliano contributed to this report.
