What’s Hot/ Latest News

Check out recent articles featuring ASP products or experts, as well as relevant infection prevention news!   

• Infection Control Today, “ASP Offers Endoscope Reprocessing Vendor Program at SGNA Meeting” May 15, 2012
  This article reports on ASP’s presence at the upcoming SGNA Annual Course in Phoenix, AZ. The article discusses ASP’s vendor program titled “Leadership in Infection Prevention: Patient and Staff Safety in Endoscope Reprocessing,” which will be led by Cathy Rocco, RN, BA, MSN, CNOR, Senior Clinical Education Consultant, ASP, and Carol Stevens, BSN, RN, CGRN, Clinical Education Consultant, ASP, on Sunday, May 20. The brief also highlights ASP’s interactive exhibit booth, which outlines the reprocessing steps of an EVOTECH^® ECR cleaning cycle. Booth visitors can experience firsthand the benefits of the EVOTECH^® ECR.
• Infection Control Today, “New AAMI Publication Focuses on Sterilization, Reprocessing” May 11, 2012
  This article announces that the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) has released the latest edition of its award-winning Horizons magazine, with the entire publication focusing on sterilization and reprocessing. Six national healthcare organizations – the AST, AGA, SHEA, AORN, APIC and IAHCSMM – signed on as supporting organizations to the spring edition of the magazine. The latest issue highlights the top 10 risks in the sterilization and reprocessing field, cleaning verification and analysis of cleaning protocols, the science of sterilization, sterile processing benchmarks and reprocessing instructions and device design.
• Infection Control Today, “APIC President Discusses New Competency Model for Infection Preventionists in CDC Blog” May 14, 2012
  The article reports that the 2012 president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), Michelle Farber, RN, CIC, is scheduled to discuss the changing role of infection preventionists (IPs) on the CDC’s Safe Healthcare Blog. Her guest appearance follows the launch of APIC’s new competency model for IPs.
• Outpatient Surgery, “How Effective are Your Infection Prevention Efforts?” May 15, 2012
  This article discusses the importance of effective infection prevention efforts and references a piece titled “Ace Your Next Infection Control Survey,” which was published in Outpatient Surgery in February of last year and provides nine tips to help IP departments ace their next infection control survey. The article notes that facilities need to ensure their infection control departments are adhering to all guidelines before a site surveyor from a regulating or accrediting agency does. Each tip helps identify and correct critical areas of concern including properly collecting infection control data, monitoring the reprocessing and storage of endoscopes and leadership in a center’s infection control program.
• Infection Control Today, “Medical Device Design and Cleanability” May 15, 2012
  This slideshow outlines the results of a reader survey of sterile processing professionals regarding ‘cleanability’ and the design of medical devices. ICT also conducted this survey to gain insights on key demographics of the profession. Click here to view to slideshow.
• Infection Control Today, “Efforts to Address Medical Device Reprocessing Encompass Design, Human Factors” May 15, 2012
  This article reports on efforts by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) to examine the state of medical device reprocessing following their two-day summit in October 2011. Following the event, the AAMI released a post-event publication titled A Clean Start: Priority Issues from the AAMI/FDA Medical Device Reprocessing Summit,” highlighting the summit and emphasizing that future priorities include a 'patient safety first' focus, with the ideal of ensuring that reprocessing is done correctly every time. A recurring message from summit participants was the challenge for stakeholders to deepen knowledge, eliminate confusion about reprocessing requirements and to pay closer attention to human and environmental challenges. The article highlights AAMI’s seven clarion themes which include creating clear instructions and repeatable steps for reprocessing, making human factors and work environment factors priorities when developing reprocessing requirements and creating a greater sense of urgency and understanding throughout the healthcare community about the consequences of inadequate reprocessing.
• Outpatient Surgery, “Are Medicare Penalties Improving Infection Prevention Efforts?” May 8, 2012
  This is continued coverage of the national survey of infection preventionists, which found that the CMS’ 2008 decision to cease additional reimbursement to hospitals for certain HAIs has led to an enhanced focus on infection prevention and changes in practice by front-line staff. The piece notes that the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Harvard Medical School-led survey, which was published in the May issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, found that 81 percent of head infection preventionists at 317 acute care hospitals say they have increased efforts. The article also mentions that the survey revealed some of the policy’s unintended consequences, including hospitals subjecting patients to unnecessary diagnostic testing upon admission in order to avoid possible financial penalties.
• Infection Control Today, “AOHP Partners with Infection Control Support Association of Japan” May 10, 2012
  The article announces an international partnership between the AOHP and JICSA to support the training of occupational health professionals by providing AOHP’s well respected resource manual “Getting Started: Occupational Health in the Healthcare Setting” in Japanese. This AOHP/JICSA partnership began in the fall of 2010 when JICSA founder and new AOHP member Eiji Doi attended the AOHP annual conference in Boston and was introduced to “Getting Started.” The translated manual will be printed and distributed to occupational health professionals in Japan as a valuable resource for training and education.
• The News International, “Health care-associated infections major issue” May 6, 2012
  The article reports on HAIs and infection prevention in Pakistan, noting that HAIs are considered as one of the most pressing health threats and a major cause of morbidity and premature deaths in the country. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, Head of Community Medicine at CMH Lahore Medical College notes that the “Acquisition of infection, and in particular cross-infection from one patient to another, is in many cases preventable by adhering to simple practices. If hospital staff would make some minor adjustments to their routines — like washing or cleaning their hands more at the right times and in the right way — the problem could be significantly minimized.” The article also discusses ‘Save Lives: Clean Your Hands’ campaign launched in 2009 by WHO Patient Safety to ensure an ongoing global, regional, national and local focus on hand hygiene in health care. Dr. Ashraf also says that “hospitals infection rates should be used as performance indicators and hospital budget allocations should be made accordingly.”
• EndoNurse, “Report Outlines Best Practices for Scope Cleaning” May 4, 2012
  This article is an executive summary of the Advanced Sterilization Products’ special report “Best Practices for High-Level Disinfection and Sterilization,” which addresses scope cleaning, disinfection and sterilization. The article notes that published occurrences of HAIs related to GI endoscopy have been associated with failure to follow established cleaning and disinfection/sterilization guidelines, the use of defective equipment and/or incorrect reprocessing as a result of unfamiliarity with endoscope channels, accessories and the specific steps required for reprocessing of attachments.
• Infection Control Today, “In the Aftermath of an Outbreak, Processes, Device Design Come Under Scrutiny” May 7, 2012
  This article reports on the study that led to the recent Today Show segment on the dangers of contaminated surgical instruments and the need for adequate training and certification of CSSD technicians. The study, which was published in the December 2011 issue of the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, is by Pritish Tosh, MD, of the Mayo Clinic Division of Infectious Diseases, and colleagues. Dr. Tosh reports on SSIs that occurred after arthroscopic procedures and were due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa of indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns occurring at a Texas hospital from April through May 2009. A team of investigators reviewed surgical instrument reprocessing practices and concluded that the SSIs were likely related to surgical instrument contamination with P. aeruginosa during instrument reprocessing. Louise-Marie Dembry, MD, MS, MBA, a board member of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and Yale-New Haven Hospital epidemiologist, describes the Texas cluster of SSIs as “a wake-up call for continued diligence in the sterile processing department.” She says, "It’s a reminder of how complex our medical instruments and devices are, how difficult they are to clean, and also how important the cleaning step is. It’s another call to vigilance when cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing these devices.”
• Infection Control Today, “Best Practices to Keep Your Surgical Instruments Moist” May 8, 2012
  This article discusses surgical instrument best practices, noting that many professional groups recommend that the processing of instruments take place no more than 30 minutes after the instruments are used in surgery, to prevent organic soils from drying and to limit the chance for damage to the instrument. Two major issues outlined in the article are keeping instruments and equipment moist and safely transporting the contaminated sharps. The third edition of “The Basics of Sterile Processing” by Sterile Processing University and the “IAHCSMM 7th Edition Central Service Technical Manual” emphasize that items should be transported in a covered, puncture-proof and clearly-labeled container. The three common ways to keep instruments moist are: 1) a wet towel; 2) spray-on detergent; 3) a self-seal pouch with absorbent layer.
• Healthcare Purchasing News, “Sterile processing technology helps SPDs and ORs do more with less” May 2012
  This article discusses the ways in which sterile processing technology is improving hospital performance, noting that manufacturers are creating equipment with faster processing times, the ability to handle a wider range of devices and added quality controls. The article provides detailed information on the products created by industry leaders, including ASP and STERIS, 3M, and Medivators. Janet Moran, RN, MBA, CNOR, senior clinical education consultant for ASP, describes how ASP can help facilities make the most of limited resources and highlights the advantages of the both STERRAD® Systems and the EVOTECH® ECR. She states, “ASP is 100% focused on providing solutions that reduce the human and financial costs of preventing infection. This includes not only flexibility in processing but also the longevity of a healthcare facility’s devices and instrumentation.” Moran also provides an overview of the STERRAD® Systems, describing them as “general purpose sterilizers that can process a wide range of devices for immediate or later use without the damage associated with high temperature methods or peracetic acid,” and outlines the key benefits of upgrading from the STERRAD® 100S System to the STERRAD® 100NX® System, including the STERRAD® 100NX® System’s ability to connect with networks and Instrument Tracking Software (ITS) that facilities use to track devices from reprocessing to point-of-use. Moran calls the EVOTECH® ECR a “key differentiator,” because the system automates the cleaning and reprocessing of flexible endoscopes, making the process faster, consistent and most importantly, safer for both the patient and healthcare worker.
• Healthcare Purchasing News, “Your Next Steam Sterilization Moisture Event Self-Study Series” May 2012
  This piece is part of Healthcare Purchasing News’ self-study series, which was developed by STERIS and discusses what central sterile processing departments (CSSDs) should do when they experience a sterilization moisture event. The lesson discusses wet packs, the items that contain moisture after the sterilization process, and provides detailed recommendations for handling. STERIS also encourages CSSD leadership to recognize, promote and accept education and training as a part of their department’s quality systems. The piece also contains a self-test at the end for CE credit.
• Healthcare Purchasing News, “SPD professionals launch new blog: Reprocess This!” April 26, 2012
  This article highlights the launch of a new online forum for CS professionals called, “Reprocess This!” The new blog, written by three Sterile Processing managers – Jennifer Burrell, BS, CRCST, CSPDM, Tracy Humphreys, BS, MS, CRCST and Kristina Pirollo-Ketchum, CRCST, CHL, ACE, provides an informal setting for SPD professionals to network and discuss the hard-hitting issues that are facing the industry. Hosted by IMS, the nationwide surgical instrument management and consulting provider, "Reprocess This!" is encouraging the exchange of opinions and information between sterile processing departments.
• Infection Control Today, “An Imperfect Measure of Hospital Safety” April 25, 2012
  This article discusses the Canadian Institute for Health Information’s (CIHI) new hospital benchmarking tool, which fails to include hospital-acquired infections or medication errors as a performance indicator. The piece notes that because Canada has one of the worst hospital infection rates (11.6 percent) among developed countries, any accurate measure of patient safety within Canadian hospitals would have to include hospital-acquired infection rates.
• Becker’s ASC Review, “Staff Education Tool: Nevada Public Health Foundation’s – Infection Control in ASCs” April 23, 2012
  This article provides information about the Nevada Public Health Foundation’s downloadable presentation on ambulatory surgery center efforts to educate staff on infection control. The staff education tool covers a wide array of topics including outpatient surgery outbreaks, key infection control recommendations from the CDC, operating room management, environmental cleaning and disinfection and hand hygiene.

Next >>