Ireland Issues Guideline on Device Reprocessing

Ireland Issues Guideline on Device Reprocessing

Ireland’s Health Service Executive has released a practice guideline on decontamination of reusable invasive medical devices (RIMDs).

The new code of practice sets standards and best practices for facilities operating within Ireland’s public health system.

“Decontamination facilities should be designed, constructed, maintained and controlled to provide effective segregation of clean and dirty activities and to provide an environment that minimizes contamination of clean and disinfected RIMD,” the guideline says.

The seven-part guideline includes sections on recommended practices for central decontamination units, endoscopy units and dental services, as well as an audit prototype for evaluating decontamination procedures.

The guideline, “Code of Practice for Decontamination of Reusable Invasive Medical Devices,” can be viewed at:

www.hse.ie/en/Publications/HSEPublicationsNew/AcuteHospitalReportsGuidelines/#d.en.8696.