Sterilization & Disinfection

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Home Sterilization & Disinfection

Study: Ureteroscopes remain contaminated after cleaning, sterilization

Editor's Note Techniques used to clean and sterilize flexible ureteroscopes left behind contamination that included debris, residue, and bacteria, in this study presented June 14 at the 44th Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control. Researchers with Ofstead & Associates (St Paul, Minnesota) sampled 16 ureteroscopes at…

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By: Judy Mathias
June 19, 2017
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FDA releases list of reusable devices requiring new validated IFU, validation data

Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 9 released a list of reusable devices that will require new validated instructions for use (IFU) and validation data in premarket notifications regarding cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization. These actions are effective August 8, 2017. The list includes: Bronchoscopes (flexible or…

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By: Judy Mathias
June 12, 2017
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Joint Commission: Safety update on improperly sterilized, HLD equipment

Editor's Note The Joint Commission on May 24 issued a new Quick Safety update on improperly sterilized or high-level disinfected (HLD) equipment, which continues to be a frequently scored noncompliant standard (IC 02.02.01). The update includes expanded safety actions to help leaders oversee sterilization and HLD processes and ensure that…

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By: Judy Mathias
May 25, 2017
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Consider a sterilization subject matter expert to increase compliance

Compliance with sterilization and disinfection standards is critical to patient safety, yet Joint Commission surveyors continue to cite healthcare facilities for noncompliance with high-level disinfection (HLD) and sterilization processes during accreditation surveys. Organizations with HLD and/or sterilization breaches during a survey may receive an immediate threat to life or adverse…

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By: Susan Klacik, BS, ACE, CHL, CRCST, FCS
May 17, 2017
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Olympus redesigned duodenoscope linked to new infection outbreak

Editor's Note A new outbreak of infections outside the US have been tied to a duodenoscope Olympus modified last year to reduce the risk of transmitting bacteria between patients, the March 22 Los Angeles Times reports. The outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae in five patients occurred at the end of December…

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By: Judy Mathias
March 29, 2017
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Arm your staff with strategies to prevent HAIs

Each year, more than 700,000 patients in acute care hospitals fall prey to healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), and approximately 75,000 hospitalized patients die from them. Such statistics have gotten the attention of regulatory agencies that are determined to reduce these numbers. The Healthcare-Acquired Infections and Medical Technology Stakeholder Event held in…

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By: OR Manager
February 17, 2017
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Rigorous reprocessing doesn’t free scopes of contamination

Editor's Note This study by Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, and associates found that more rigorous reprocessing was not consistently effective in freeing endoscopes of contamination, and many had scratches and dents that could harbor blood, tissue, and bacteria. Even after reprocessing using current guidelines or additional measures, 12 of 20…

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By: Judy Mathias
February 6, 2017
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IUSS drops to 5% with team intervention

Reducing immediate use steam sterilization (IUSS) can be challenging, but adhering to standards is essential not only for patient safety, but also for successful accreditation surveys. “Accrediting organizations are hitting hard on all of sterilization, but especially IUSS,” says Rose Seavey, MBA, BA, RN, CNOR, CRCST, CSPDT, president and CEO…

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By: OR Manager
January 18, 2017
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Joint Commission offers new blog for infection preventionists

Editor's Note A new blog from the Joint Commission on Infection Prevention & Control covers experiences, case studies, and news for infection preventionists. The latest blog post details the BoosterPak for High-Level Disinfection and Sterilization processes, which is applicable to hospitals, critical access hospitals, plus ambulatory and office-based surgery settings.…

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By: Judy Mathias
December 14, 2016
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Cleaning verification tests boost confidence in instrument decontamination

Even when recommended cleaning and disinfection protocols are followed, residual contamination of instruments is possible, researchers have found (OR Manager, November 2016, 1, 10-11). Visual inspection can catch some signs of contamination, but it won’t reveal problems within channels and other areas of complex medical devices. That’s why it’s important…

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By: OR Manager
November 14, 2016
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