If you are looking for a comprehensive Asepsis and Infection Control Policy then this document may just fit the bill.  It covers barrier protection, handwashing protocol, cleaning and disinfection, protection of surfaces, needles and sharps, sterilization, waste disposal, sterilization and disinfection, and a few more.  Again, what drew our attention to this policy was the absolute Read More

Cleaning & sterilization of rigid reusable endoscopic and laproscopic instruments pose serious challenges. This Q&A from ECRI answers the question posed by a hospital with respect to cleaning of such instruments.  The major hurdle that the hospital faced had to do with their geometries.  Intricate structures tend to attract blood and soil and proved difficult Read More

Instruments used in laproscopic surgery are precisely calibrated and have a more complex design than their counterparts in open surgery.  This article examines the different issues involved in laproscopic instrument cleaning and sterilization. The primary concern with these instruments are their delicate construction which necessitates extra care. Only the gentlest methods should be used.  The Read More

In continuation of our theme discussing the various facets of cleaning surgical instruments, here is an excellent primer on its chemical aspects.  It examines instrument cleaning from two points of view – the attributes of the cleaning compound and the methods employed in cleaning.  Attributes of the cleaning compound should include the ability to remove organic and inorganic Read More

Nurses operate in various perioperative settings where disinfection procedures can vary due to the nature of the environment.  This includes ambulatory surgical centers, traditional operating rooms, and so on.  The AORN Journal has come out with a set of Recommended practices for high-level disinfection that takes into account all the varied settings where nurses work. Read More

Caring for surgical instruments is a challenge. These are big ticket investments and need special attention.  Well cared for instruments have a working life span of well over twenty years. Hence, it makes all the more sense to acquire a thorough knowledge of care and maintenance guidelines for each instrument and their specific points of Read More

Infection Control Today has a good overview of ultrasonic cleaners for medical and surgical instrument cleaning. The author correctly notes that that the three critical factors that influence ultrasonic cleaner performance is power, frequency, and the cleaning solution. The article highlights the importance of the cleaning solution which is often neglected. We see this in Read More