Pa. Gets Tough on Healthcare-acquired Infections

http://www.rxforpa.com/
Pennsylvania's surgery centers and hospitals are on the hook for improving their infection control protocols and will receive financial incentives to do so, thanks to a healthcare reform bill signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell on July 20.

Under the plan, Pennsylvania's Department of Health must establish best practices for eliminating healthcare-acquired infections and reducing medical errors based on nationally recognized, evidenced-based standards. All of the state's licensed healthcare facilities will be required to adopt those standards, submit a written report of their infection control plan to the department and demonstrate a reduction in healthcare-acquired infections.

AORN council addresses extended cycle concerns

Many medical facilities are faced with the issue of extended steam sterilization cycles for their surgical instruments (a cycle time longer than the traditional 4 minutes). The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Sterile Processing/Materials Management Specialty Assembly Coordinating Council has released a general statement on extended Cycles:

"Each medical facility needs to make sure that all of their products used for sterilization (peel pouches, wrap, etc.) can withstand theses longer steam sterilization cycles. Each medical facility needs to make sure that the products used in extended cycles are validated for these types of cycles. Many manufactures have tested their products for these longer cycles' times. The manufacture of the products should supply information to the user for their records."

This statement comes from the AORN Sterile Processing/Materials Management Specialty Assembly Coordinating Council: Chair - Rose Seavey, RN, MBA, CNOR, ACSP; Past Chair - Dottie Conroy, RN, BSN; Communication Chair - Wanda Elwell, RN, CNOR; Education Chair - Stephen Kovach; Professional/Practice Issues Chair - Martha Young, BS, MS; AORN CNP Staff Liaison - Ramona Conner, RN, MSN, CNOR; AORN Board Liaison - Deborah Spratt, RN, MPA, CNAA, CNOR; and AORN Staff Consultant - Debbie Stephen.

http://www.aorn.org/docs_assets/55B250E0-9779-5C0D-1DDC8177C9B4C8EB/0972C9ED-F6F7-6E32-CA50251F7599DCDB/Stmnt%20on%20Extended%20Cycles.doc

Premier healthcare alliance launches comprehensive project to improve hospital quality, reduce costs

http://www.hpnonline.com/dailyupdates/July_07.html#27-6
The Premier healthcare alliance and a group of healthcare leaders launched a comprehensive project called "QUEST: High Performing Hospitals" to improve patient safety and quality in the nation's hospitals while safely reducing healthcare costs. QUEST is a three-year program through which participating hospitals will report data to Premier on a set of clearly defined performance measures encompassing aspects of quality, efficiency, safety and patient satisfaction. Premier will analyze the data, facilitate sharing of best practices, and provide incentives for top-performing hospitals.

MediSource introduces triple enzyme cleaner

http://www.medisourcemedical.com/JULY_2007.pdf
MediSource Inc (Albany, GA) introduced its new UltiZyme ® Triple Enzyme Cleaner. This new formulation includes increased enzyme activity, higher levels of synergistic surfactants, improved cleaning power, and pleasant fragrance. For additional information, visit www.medisourcemedical.com.

Expert: FDA Scrutinizes Complaint-Handling Systems

http://www.fdanews.com/newsletter/article?issueId=10464&articleId=96042
The FDA is increasingly scrutinizing manufacturers’ product complaint systems and procedures, according to David Dills, senior consultant with Parexel Consulting. The FDA has been closely examining records during inspections and evaluating whether firms find root causes of complaints and appropriately close investigation files, Dills said at the recent Center for Business Intelligence 5th Annual Product Complaints for Bio/Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices conference.
Over the past year, the number of Form 483 observations for product complaints has been at an all-time high, Dills said, as agency field investigators are spending more time examining company complaint sections during inspections. The audits are focusing on documentation and reasons for closure of investigation files. In noting that excessive product complaints are sometimes a sign of product design flaws, Dills said that complaint files, and the reasons behind closing complaint investigations, need to stand up in court. He also said that it is important for firms to not prematurely jump to conclusions regarding the outcomes of investigations. They should wait until investigations are completed.

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

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

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.