AAMI Encourages More Government Participation in Standards
The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) says it wants more federal agencies to take part in standards development as a way to create better standards.
"Other agencies could provide different perspectives, and therefore increase the level of national (and international) consensus regarding the appropriate content of our standards," AAMI says in comments submitted to the federal government.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) put out a call for comments on the effectiveness of federal agency participation in standards development.
AAMI works extensively with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) to create medical device standards. CDRH representatives are leaders on a number of AAMI standards committees.
More government participation in standards could help prevent two different agencies from adopting different and conflicting standards, AAMI says.
An example of a lack of consensus surrounds IEC 60601-1, the electrical equipment standard. Last year, CDRH recognized the third and latest edition of the standard.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) uses the previous edition of 60601-1 for a different purpose than FDA, and is "now indicating it will not recognize the third edition," AAMI says. "This presents some serious difficulties for industry."
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.
Broadening the Path: Diverse Educational Routes Into Infection Prevention Careers
July 4th 2025Once dominated by nurses, infection prevention now welcomes professionals from public health, lab science, and respiratory therapy—each bringing unique expertise that strengthens patient safety and IPC programs.
How Contaminated Is Your Stretcher? The Hidden Risks on Hospital Wheels
July 3rd 2025Despite routine disinfection, hospital surfaces, such as stretchers, remain reservoirs for harmful microbes, according to several recent studies. From high-touch areas to damaged mattresses and the effectiveness of antimicrobial coatings, researchers continue to uncover persistent risks in environmental hygiene, highlighting the critical need for innovative, continuous disinfection strategies in health care settings.
