Innovations in dosing aiming to reduce waste

The decontamination of surgical instruments, medical devices, endoscopes, and dental tools is an essential process in ensuring patient safety, preventing healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), and maintaining the integrity and longevity of medical equipment. Modern dosing equipment plays a pivotal role in today's sterile service departments, and advancements in this technology, such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and automated monitoring systems, have further enhanced the accuracy, efficiency, and safety, of dosing systems.

Two primary methods are used for dosing in 
healthcare settings. Centralised dosing systems are 
used primarily in larger NHS hospital Trusts and by outsourced dedicated decontamination and sterilisation providers. Smaller, more localised dosing systems, where canisters are located within or near the washer-disinfectors, are still used in the majority of healthcare settings. Each approach has its advantages and challenges, and their suitability depends on the unique nature of the environment where the system will be used, the volume of instruments routinely being processed, and infrastructural capabilities and limitations.

With an increasing focus on sustainability and cost-effectiveness in healthcare, new innovations in dosing aim to reduce waste, optimise energy consumption, and improve real-time monitoring. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies promises to further support data-driven decision-making, ensuring that dosing is more precise and adaptable to varying needs.