Sterile Processing
The Infection Control Today® sterile processing page provides an inside look into the sterile processing (or central supply) department in the hospital where surgical instruments are cleaned, sterilized, and reprocessed in order to disinfect, remove bioburden, and prep for upcoming procedures. Sterile processing applies to not only the knives, scalpels, scissors, forceps, and clamps used in surgery, but also instruments such as endoscopes and duodenoscopes. ICT® reports on the latest technology but also on the means to disinfect that technology. Also, the trend toward making more disposable surgical equipment. What does that mean for the sterile processing team?
Latest News
November 19th 2024
Learn how Germitec’s Chronos uses patented UV-C technology for high-level disinfection of ultrasound probes in 90 seconds, enhancing infection control, patient safety, and environmental sustainability.
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Infection Prevention, Proper Textile Handling are Key Issues for Laundry, CS Professionals
December 20th 2012Infection Control Today spoke with Cindy Molko, CLLM, RLLD, director of linen and central services at Mayo Clinic - Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn. about key issues facing laundry and central sterile professionals related to infection prevention.
Unique Device Identification Addresses Dangerous Blind Spot in Healthcare
November 14th 2012Electronic tracking systems have been commonplace in just about every industry since the 1970s. Virtually every product sold in America has a barcode on it, linking it to a central database so that the product can be easily identified. That is how manufacturers can recall products, from contaminated peanut butter to toxic dog food from store shelves within hours, and trace E. coli-infected spinach to the field in which it was grown. Yet we have no such system for medical devices, including those that are implanted in patients to help keep them alive. Its hard to believe that our country can track the location of dog food better than we can a sophisticated medical device.
