e enjte, 19 korrik 2007

The Solutions for Unburdening Instruments

Properly cleaning surgical instruments, that is to say returning them to the level of cleanliness and sterility required for them to be used in another surgical procedure, is a multi-step process. Simply running them through a sterilization cycle is not enough. Prior to sterilization, the instruments must be pre-treated and cleaned to remove harmful and often infectious bioburden. This bioburden (blood, mucous, proteins, fat and other residue), which adheres to use surgical instruments, not only presents the risk of cross-contamination, it can also cause serious damage to the expensive instrumentation itself. continue

e mërkurë, 18 korrik 2007

FDA Public Health Notification: Updated Information on Custom Ultrasonics, Inc., Endoscope Washer/Disinfector

On 7/16/07 the FDA issued a letter to Custom Ultrasonics stating that the firm has now complied with the requirements of the Consent Decree and is permitted to resume manufacturing the System 83 Plus Washer/Disinfector and all accessories. For more information on this topic please go to the FDA link to read their complete statement.

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/022707-ultrasonics.html

e premte, 13 korrik 2007

Ecolab Hand Hygiene Compliance Monitoring Program Helps Hospitals Reduce

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070625/20070625005652.html?.v=1
InfectionMonday June 25, 9:15 am ET
ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ecolab Inc. announced today a new Hand Hygiene Monitoring Compliance Program for hospitals and healthcare facilities. The program provides a multi-intervention approach that combines effective hand hygiene products, a step-by-step implementation process, patient empowerment education and training materials, ongoing measurement, and benchmarking to increase and sustain hand hygiene compliance. According to the Centers for Disease Control, proper hand hygiene is the single most effective method for preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in hospitals, which account for an estimated 99,000 deaths annually in the United States.

Innovative Hand Sanitation System Trumps Hospital Acquired Infections

http://www.ereleases.com/pr/20070710002.html
Current infection control practice is bare hand sanitation between patient visits often followed by donning medical exam gloves. However, recontamination of the gloved hand inevitably occurs when room surfaces, healthcare worker's and doctor's clothing, instruments, etc., inevitably covered by pathogens, are touched by the healthcare worker hand during a patient visit and then transferred to the patient during care. We believe that this is the primary and not to be ignored route for transmission of hospital acquired infections. Our patented device, based on ultraviolet (UV-C) exposure of the gloved hand within a small, closed volume, has been designed to allow a system of frequent, fast, and immediately available hand sanitation during patient care, interrupting the infection pathway in a way that infrequent bare hand sanitation cannot. The UV-C is blocked by the exam gloves and no UV-C leaves the device, hence the process is totally safe for the healthcare worker, doctor, and patient."

e mërkurë, 11 korrik 2007

Soil Particles Found to Boost Prion's Capacity to Infect

http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/hotnews/77h9655179383.html
The rogue proteins that cause chronic wasting disease (CWD) exhibit a dramatic increase in their infectious nature when bound to common soil particles, according to a new study.
Writing in the journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) Pathogens, a group led by University of Wisconsin-Madison prion expert Judd Aiken reports that prions, the protein agents of a family of fatal brain disorders, bind tightly to a common soil mineral and significantly increase the oral transmissibility of the agent.

Pedersen notes that soils are a complex mixture of organic and inorganic components that vary across the landscape and that scientists are just beginning to tease out factors in soils that may contribute to transmissibility. The new study implies, he says, "that some soils may promote the transmission of the prion agent more readily than others."

e martë, 10 korrik 2007

Medical sterilization systems market to reach $2.3 billion by 2010, says new report

http://www.hpnonline.com/dailyupdates/July_07.html#10-3

Sterilization methods and techniques continue to evolve towards safer, speedier, and more economic processes. Innovation in sterilization is centered on improving cycle times, reducing cost and safety concerns, and designing affordable systems for in-house use. Shaped by diverse trends, the world medical sterilization systems and equipment market is expected to reach US$2.3 billion by 2010. Steam sterilization continues to be the most important and widely used procedure. Steam sterilization market is stable due to regulatory enforcements imposed on EtO sterilization, a method fraught with higher residuals. Usage of new technologies such as E-beam and X-ray, is also set to register higher growth, widening the scope of options available for sterilization procedures.

e hënë, 9 korrik 2007

Automation standards benefit pharmaceutical/medical applications

http://www.healthcare-packaging.com/newsletters/hcp-07-06-07.html
At a biomedical facility in Ireland, machine automation is coming into play in a validated environment that involves 21 CFR Part 11 electronic signatures, integrated robots and vision systems. The application is a real-world example of good automation standards providing real-world benefits.

SPSmedical announces monthly audio seminars for healthcare facility

http://www.hpnonline.com/dailyupdates/July_07.html#6-2
SPSmedical announces monthly Audio Seminars on a variety of infection prevention and sterilization topics to health care facilities. This new educational service assists health care facilities comply with educational training and provides certified staff with CEUs. Charles Hughes, Lead Educator of SPSmedical provides a one hour CE presentation, pre-approved through both IAHCSMM and CBSPD. Each seminar allows time for Q & A at the end of the presentation. For those unable to attend the live broadcast, a recording will be available for 30 days via the internet. SPSmedical provides handouts prior to each Audio Seminar and a post seminar notification is sent including audio file, certificate of participation and evaluation form. There is no cost to each attendees; however, the health care facility is charged a small fee for each phone connection. For a complete listing of seminar objectives visit: THIS LINK.