The Infection Control Today® sterile processing page provides an inside look into the sterile processing (or central supply) department in the hospital where surgical instruments are cleaned, sterilized, and reprocessed in order to disinfect, remove bioburden, and prep for upcoming procedures. Sterile processing applies to not only the knives, scalpels, scissors, forceps, and clamps used in surgery, but also instruments such as endoscopes and duodenoscopes. ICT® reports on the latest technology but also on the means to disinfect that technology. Also, the trend toward making more disposable surgical equipment. What does that mean for the sterile processing team?
July 24th 2024
Utilizing robust quality systems is essential in medical device manufacturing to prevent infections and extend the lifespan of instruments, ensuring optimal patient safety.
Medical Crossfire®: Which Patients with Hematologic Malignancies are at Risk for Secondary Immunodeficiency (SID)… and How Can We Leverage Evidence to Improve Their Outcomes?
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Patient, Provider, and Caregiver Connection™: Prevention and Control of Meningococcal Disease — Individualizing Vaccine Recommendations in Adolescent Populations
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Ultrasound Transducers: Avoiding Gel Contamination and Using Proper Level Disinfection
August 31st 2022Having complete IV start kits or central line insertion kits to reduce gel type variability and, thus gel contamination and following AIUM and INS disinfection recommendations are 2 ways to prevent health care-acquired infections.
Give Sterile Processing Team, Profession the Recognition They Deserve
August 23rd 2022Sterile Processing Week runs from October 9 through 15. Julie Williamson, of the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association, explains why appreciation goes a long way with this vital group of hospital professionals.
Contamination of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Transducers Alarms Key Clinician
August 11th 2022Using ultrasound transducers is often necessary in the emergency department, but too often the proper procedures to protect against health care associated infections are not followed, and clinicians are worried.
Environment and Time Cause Chemical Changes in Clinical Soil on Medical Devices
April 28th 2022Terra Kremer, the senior program manager of microbiological quality and sterility assurance at Johnson & Johnson, and technical lead of the Device Processing Tiger Team, spoke with ICT® about her research on time and efficiency of sterile processing and what is most affecting the industry today.