Infection Control Today Magazine

Sterile Processing

Sterile processing in the healthcare setting involves the proper and thorough cleaning, decontamination, disinfection and sterilization of surgical instrumentation and medical devices to remove bioburden that can cause healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs).

Improper Reprocessing Targeted as One of Healthcare's Most Dangerous Hazards

In October 2011, more than 275 participants convened at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., for a multidisciplinary Medical Device Reprocessing Summit sponsored by the FDA in collaboration with the Association for the Advancement of ...More
3 weeks ago
Posted in Articles, Disinfection & Sterilization
ECRI PSO Issues Top 10 Essentials for Effective Instrument Cleaning

Each day, healthcare facilities’ sterile processing departments manage the preparation of countless surgical instruments for upcoming procedures. This was demonstrated in the February 2013 issue of PSO Monthly Brief which explored inadequately reprocessed devices. If ...More
April 11, 2013
Posted in News, Disinfection & Sterilization
Applications Being Accepted for 2013-2014 International Sister CSSD Educational Exchange Program

On the heels of a successful inaugural year, the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) and 3M announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2013-2014 International Sister CSSD Educational Exchange Program. The ...More
March 19, 2013
Posted in News, Disinfection & Sterilization
GE to Develop Hospital Robot System to Sort and Sterilize Surgical Tools

The Institute of Medicine estimates that tens of thousands of Americans die needlessly every year from avoidable medical errors, including infections acquired during surgery. GE and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have now teamed up to change that. They will develop ...More
February 5, 2013
Posted in News, Disinfection & Sterilization
Register Now for AAMI Series of Webinars Addressing Sterile Processing Issues

Register today for these Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) webinars and earn contact hour credits from CBSPD and IAHCSMM. The following programs have all been approved: • January 15, 2013: Updates to AAMI's ST79 Steam Sterilization Standard• ...More
January 15, 2013
Posted in News, Disinfection & Sterilization
Bronchofiberscopy Associated with Acinetobacter baumannii Outbreak

Bronchofiberscopy, a widely used procedure for the diagnosis of various pulmonary diseases within intensive care units, has a history of association with nosocomial infections. Between September and November 2009, an outbreak caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter ...More
December 7, 2012
Posted in News, Disinfection & Sterilization
AAMI Offers Webinar on Construction and Renovation of Sterile Processing Facilities

The first of three presentations, this program from the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) focuses on understanding the design process to assist participants in collecting the most useful information and required planning data for making good ...More
November 27, 2012
Posted in News, Disinfection & Sterilization
AAMI Announces Launch of Quality Systems for Device Reprocessing Working Group

The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) is seeking volunteers to help with the creation of a new standard: AAMI ST90: Reprocessing of reusable medical devices -- Quality management systems for reprocessing for healthcare delivery organizations. ...More
November 20, 2012
Posted in News, Disinfection & Sterilization
Surgical Infection Survivor Now Blogs About Sterile Processing Issues

“Reprocess This!” a social media site for sterile processing professionals, continues to add to its roster of contributing experts. The blog’s newest writer is Lena Burgess, CRCST, CHL, CSPDM, a 14-year veteran of sterile processing who oversees seven sterile processing ...More
November 20, 2012
Posted in News, Disinfection & Sterilization
Association of Medical Device Reprocessors Celebrates 15 Years of Cutting Healthcare Spending

The Association of Medical Device Reprocessors (AMDR) celebrates a significant milestone today, marking 15 years of helping hospitals cut wasteful spending. Its members saved U.S. hospitals $300 million in 2011 alone. The third-party reprocessing association, which has ...More
November 13, 2012
Posted in News, Disinfection & Sterilization