What’s Wrong With Cardboard?
Dustin Patterson | Regional Sales Manager, LogiQuip LLC.
What’s wrong with cardboard? Specifically, what’s wrong with corrugated cardboard? For Amazon deliveries? Nothing. For sterile storage and infection control? EVERYTHING.
In addition to corrugated cardboard boxes being dirty from the manufacturing and shipping process, they are also susceptible to vermin, insects, moisture, mold, and bacteria growth which can contaminate the contents. Because of this and the fact that corrugated boxes cannot be cleaned or disinfected, they are unsafe for use in your sterile storage areas.
Here are some “Dos” and “Don’ts” when it comes to corrugated cardboard boxes to avoid transmission of germs and bacteria across your facility:
- DON’T use corrugated cardboard boxes to transport or store supplies to sterile storage, clinical areas, operating rooms, and clean utility rooms.
- DO create a staging area outside of sterile areas where supplies in corrugated boxes can be unpacked and immediately moved to sterile storage.
- DO break down all corrugated boxes and discard in a timely manner.
- DO use the single layer cardboard boxes that the manufacturer packs supplies in.For example, packages of masks, latex gloves, and suture boxes can be used in sterile storage.
- DON’T re-use single layer cardboard boxes. Once the box is emptied of their original contents, discard them.
- DO follow any guidelines your facility has around the use of corrugated boxes.
Dustin Patterson is currently the Mid-West Regional Sales Manager with Logiquip Healthcare Storage Solutions, a leading provider of high- quality, future focused storage systems designed exclusively for use in the healthcare environment. Logiquip is based out of Kalamazoo, MI and has served healthcare organizations across the US for 30 years. Dustin brings over 12 years of experience in space planning and healthcare storage. He has acted on behalf of LogiQuip as the vendor liaison to the AHRMM Wisconsin Chapter, a leading membership group for healthcare supply chain professionals. Working closely with many hospitals and surgery centers, Dustin has developed tailored solutions using a mix of best practices, Lean principles, and industry-leading storage equipment. He has also worked with many Sterile Processing Departments to maximize storage spaces, balancing trade-offs between high-capacity storage layouts and workflow efficiencies.
