Unfortunately, some health care professionals as well as the technical and commercial literature refer to “disinfection” as “sterilization” and items as “partially sterile.” When chemicals are used for the purposes of destroying all forms of microbiologic life, including fungal and bacterial spores, they may be called chemical sterilants. Sterilization is intended to convey an absolute meaning, not a relative one. Steam under pressure, dry heat, ethylene oxide (ETO) gas, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and liquid chemicals are the principal sterilizing agents used in health care facilities. Sterilization is the complete elimination or destruction of all forms of microbial life and is accomplished in health care facilities by either physical or chemical processes. ![]() In addition, we briefly review the management of medical waste in health care facilities. 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 In this chapter, which is an update of previous chapters, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 a pragmatic approach to the judicious selection and proper use of disinfection and sterilization processes is presented, based on well-designed studies assessing the efficacy (via laboratory investigations) and effectiveness (via clinical studies) of disinfection and sterilization procedures. 3, 4 Failure to comply with scientifically based guidelines has led to numerous outbreaks of infectious diseases. Multiple studies in many countries have documented lack of compliance with established guidelines for disinfection and sterilization. Because it is unnecessary to sterilize all patient care items, health care policies must identify whether cleaning, disinfection, or sterilization is indicated based primarily on the item's intended use. Failure to properly disinfect or sterilize equipment carries not only the risk associated with breach of the host barriers but also the additional risk for person-to-person transmission (e.g., hepatitis B virus) and transmission of environmental pathogens (e.g., Clostridium difficile).Īchieving disinfection and sterilization through the use of disinfectants and sterilization practices is essential for ensuring that medical and surgical instruments do not transmit infectious pathogens to patients. A major risk of all such procedures is the introduction of infection. 2 Each of these procedures involves contact by a medical device or surgical instrument with a patient's sterile tissue or mucous membranes. 1 For example, there are at least 10 million gastrointestinal endoscopies per year. Calls for confidential medical records of employees to be kept for the duration of employment plus 30 years.Each year in the United States there are approximately 53 million outpatient surgical procedures and 46 million inpatient surgical procedures. Mandates training within 90 days of the effective date of assignment and annually thereafter. Requires warning labels, including the biohazard symbol, to be affixed to containers of regulated waste and other containers used to store or transport blood or other potentially infectious materials. Specifies procedures to be made available to all employees who have had an exposure incident, including a confidential medical evaluation. Requires a written schedule for cleaning, identifying the method of decontamination to be used, and specifies methods of disposing of regulated waste. Requires employers to provide and employees to use personal protective equipment. Mandates universal precautions, emphasizing engineering and work practice controls. Requires employers to identify, in writing, tasks, procedures, and job classifications that involve occupational exposure to blood. All biohazard containers must have a displayed address in case they get separated on the way to disposal.Ī set of regulations to protect health-care workers, patients, and other visitors from health hazards. Disposal methods include treatment by heat, incineration, chemical treatment, steam sterilization, and other safe, equivalent methods that inactivate the waste before it is placed in a landfill. ![]() Biohazard waste must be disposed of in accordance with all federal, state, and local regulations. These containers are used for disposable gowns, table covers, items contaminated with blood and body fluids, dressings, gloves, needles, and sharp objects. Every container must have a lid that is replaced after use. ![]() All biohazard containers must have a fluorescent orange or orange-red label with the biohazard symbol and the word BIOHAZARD in a contrasting color. When a biohazard container is filled to the three-quarter mark, it should be placed in a locked storage area until pickup. ![]() A leakproof, puncture-resistant container that is color-coded red or labeled with a biohazard symbol and is used to store and dispose of contaminated supplies and equipment.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |