[Criteria for evaluating difficulties in cleaning single-use items].

In this study, we elaborated criteria to evaluate difficulties in cleaning single-use articles (SVA), which will be used for decision making about investments in the validation of reuse protocols. This methodological research was carried out at a University Hospital and aimed to: identify SVA used and reused at the institution; propose an instrument to measure risk levels of SVA for cleaning; classify SVA using 9 criteria established in the proposed instrument and evaluate its applicability. We identified 32 SVA, whose risks were classified using the colors used in traffic lights, with a view to supporting decision making about reuse. The proposed criteria make it possible to diagnose the risk of cleaning the SVA under analysis, as well as their implications for the safety of the sterilization process.