What’s Hot/ Latest News

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

Outpatient Surgery News, “The ABC’s of Automated Endoscope Reprocessors” December 2012
Infection Control Today, “AAMI Survey Identifies Top 10 Medical Device Challenges” December 4, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Social Media Survey of Infection Preventionists” December 10, 2012
News Medical, “Report finds decline in overall number and rate of healthcare-associated infections in Pennsylvania” November 29, 2012
Beacon News, “Edmonton company has answer to Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI)” December 5, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Researchers Explore Social Media for Infectious Diseases Prevention” November 27, 2012
Infection Control Today, “AAMI Offers Webinar on Construction and Renovation of Sterile Processing Facilities” November 27, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Managing the Spectrum: Infection prevention in acute & ambulatory settings” November 26, 2012
Infection Control Today, “AAMI Announces Launch of Quality Systems for Device Reprocessing Working Group” November 20, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Surgical Infection Survivor Now Blogs About Sterile Processing Issues” November 20, 2012
Embassy of the United States in Harare, Zimbabwe, “U.S. and Zimbabwe Partner to Improve Infection Control Practices in Health Care Facilities” November 1, 2012
Infection Control Today, “AAMI Standards Week to Include Meeting on Equipment Maintenance” November 6, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Demonstrate ROI to Make an Effective Business Case for Infection Prevention” November 1, 2012
The Guardian Nigeria, “Federal Government To Introduce Infection Control Policy” November 2, 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Debunking myths about endoscope reprocessing” November 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Getting the 411 on OEM instructions” November 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Seeing endoscope storage in a new way” November 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “SGNA endoscope guidelines scope, impact” November 2012
Infection Control Today, “New Materials May Help Prevent Infections by Blocking Initial Bacterial Attachment” October 29, 2012
Infection Control Today, “SHEA President Blogs About Behavior Change in Healthcare to Break Old Habits, Prevent HAIs” October 25, 2012
Infection Control Today, “AAMI Updates Steam Sterilization Standard” October 23, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Do Everything: Multimodal Intervention to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections” October 23, 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Study results show the efficacy of improved hydrogen peroxide against important healthcare-associated pathogens” October 19, 2012
ASP, “International Infection Prevention Week starts off strong and continues throughout the week” October 15, 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Hospitals that cooperate on infection control fare better than hospitals acting alone” October 10, 2012
EndoNurse, “New Study: EHRs Improve Quality of Patient Care” October 11, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Superbugs Ride Air Currents Around Hospital Units” October 11, 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Advanced Monitoring Tools Increase Sterility Assurance Odds” October 2012 Issue
TechNation, “The Roundtable: Flexible Endoscopes” October 1, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Bringing a High-Level Disinfectant and Automated Endoscope Reprocessor to Market” September 29, 2012
EndoNurse, “AAMI Offers Course on Device Radiation-Sterilization” September 26, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Join the IIPW Movement, Oct 14-20, 2012” September 19, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Closing the Gap Between Environmental Services and Clinical Research” September 20, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Caring for the Healthcare Environment: EVS Leading Implementation Science” September 20, 2012
Infection Control Today, “SGNA Offers Webinar on Putting Reprocessing, Infection Control Standards Into Practice” September 12, 2012
Infection Control Today, “‘Practice Guidance for Healthcare Environmental Cleaning’ Will be Available at AHE Annual Meeting” September 13, 2012
Outpatient Surgery, “Infection Prevention – Keys to Success With Low-Temp Sterilization” September 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Cardinal Health Durablue Sterilization Wrap Receives FDA Clearance for Extended Sterility Maintenance Indications” September 14, 2012
Infection Control Today, “FDA Proposes Changes to Postmarket Surveillance System for Medical Devices” September 14, 2012
Infection Control Today, “CDC Funds Help States Prevent HAIs” September 7, 2012
WISEPlace, “Advanced Sterilization Products Volunteers to Paint O.C. Women’s Shelter” August 28, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Environmental Hygiene: What We Know from Scientific Studies” August 30, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Environmental Hygiene Case Studies” August 30, 2012
EndoNurse, “AORN Infection-Prevention Document Open for Comment” August 30, 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Hands-Free Environmental Cleaning Strives for High-Five” September 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Environmental Services Fit to be Tied into Clinical Operations” September 2012
Infection Control Today, “Joint Commission’s 2012 Ambulatory Care Conference Highlights Strategies for Performance Improvement” August 28, 2012
Infection Control Today, “AHE Offers Discount for Arizona Environmental Services Leaders and Infection Preventionists” August 24, 2012
Censis^® Technologies, Inc., “Censitrac™ Compatible with ASP STERRAD^® Systems” August 20, 2012
EndoNurse, “ASP Launches Interface for STERRAD^®Systems” August 23, 2012
Daily Bruin, “Medical Centers Trying to Reduce Risk of Hospital-Acquired Infections” August 13, 2012
Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, Inc., “SGNA Releases Infection Prevention Documents to Promote Safety in the GI/Endoscopy Setting” August 22, 2012
Infection Control Today, “California Department of Public Health Issues Report on HAI Data” August 23, 2012
Outpatient Surgery, “Taking Room Disinfection To a New Level” August 2012
Infection Control Today, “Infection Preventionist Discusses Being on the Frontline Against HAIs in CDC Blog” August 14, 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Review Finds Hospital-Acquired Infections Went Unreported” August 14, 2012
Outpatient Surgery, “Don’t Disregard Decontamination” August 2012
Medical Dealer, “Market Analysis: Sterilizers and Decontaminators” August 2012
SurgiStrategies, “Infection Control Standards in the ASC: A Total Facility Solution” August 2, 2012
Medical Dealer, “Product Showroom: Sterilizers and Decontaminators” July 31, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Pathogen Persistence, Transmission and Cross-Contamination Prevention” July 27, 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “A Risky Undertaking” August 2012
Infection Control Today, “Researchers Analyze the Concordance Between U.S. and European Definitions of HAIs” August 2, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Soft Surface Bacterial Contamination Considerations for a Complete Infection Prevention Program” August 1, 2012
EndoNurse, “New AAMI Posters Provide Sterilization Advice” July 26, 2012
Post-Gazette.com, “Forbes Regional Hospital Found Negligent” July 22, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Global Surgical and Infection Control Device Industry to Continue Growth Momentum” July 19, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Copper Surfaces Could Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections” July 19, 2012
EndoNurse, “AAMI Workshop to Cover Ethylene-Oxide Sterilization” July 11, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Researchers Investigate Improper High-Level Disinfection Practices During Endoscopy Procedures” July 17, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Oregon Hospitals Report Reduction in HAIs, Achieve Cost Savings” July 17, 2012
Infection Control Today, “AAMI to Hold Industrial Ethylene Oxide Sterilization for Medical Devices Workshop,” July 10, 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Hospital safety ratings released by Consumer Reports,” July 10, 2012
Infection Control Today, “UCLA Study to Determine if Copper Surfaces Can Reduce HAIs” July 9, 2012
Infection Control Today, “HHS, APIC, SHEA Call for Nominations for Partnership in Prevention Award” July 6, 2012
EndoNurse “Instrument Maintenance: Proactivity Matters” July 6, 2012
FDA MedWatch, “Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP) Sterrad Cyclesure 24 Biological Indicator: Safety Communication – Potential Risk of Infection” July 3, 2012
Healthcare IT News, “FDA proposes unique ID system for medical devices” July 5, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Slide Show: 2012 State of the Industry” June 28, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Endoscope Reprocessing: Demystifying the Multisociety Guideline” June 25, 2012
Infection Control Today, “2012 State of the Industry” June 26, 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Hospital re-trains staff after contaminated instruments were used” June 25, 2012
Infection Control Today, “APIC Offers Webinar on Infection Preventionists' Interaction with Health Departments” June 25, 2012
Becker’s ASC Review, “Patient Safety Tool: Environmental Infection Prevention Toolkit” June 19, 2012
Becker’s ASC Review, “4 Common ASC Infection Control Pitfalls” June 18, 2012
EndoNurse, “Instrument Maintenance: Why Proactivity Matters” June 14, 2012
MarketWire, “Hospital Environmental Surface Contamination Contributes to Transmissible Infection at the Same Level as Direct Patient Contact” June 14, 2012
Infection Control Today, “APIC’s Road Map for the Future of Infection Prevention” June 12, 2012
Infection Control Today, “APIC Creates Vision for the Future of Infection Preventionists’ Competencies” June 12, 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Hospitals Receive A, B, C, D or F Scores for Patient Safety” June 11, 2012
EndoNurse, “ASGE’s Training Facility to Open in 2013” June 12, 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “APIC announces Heroes Implementation Research Scholar Award program” June 7, 2012
Infection Control Today, “ASP Features Education and Innovation in the Fight Against Infection at APIC Annual Conference” June 1, 2012 Coverage also appeared in Healthcare Purchasing News and Becker’s ASC Review.
Infection Control Today, “Compliance Strategies Include Making It Easy for Healthcare Workers to Do the Right Thing” June 1, 2012
Infection Control Today, “Aligned with Xperts: Thomson Reuters Infection Xpert improves infection prevention workflow while it helps reduce hospital-acquired infections” June 4, 2012
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Evaluating Progressive Environmental Hygiene Efforts” June 2012
Wall Street Journal, “Behind One Hospital's Fight Against Deadly Infection” June 4, 2012
EndoNurse, “ASP Launches Redesigned Infection-Prevention Newsletter” May 25, 2012
This is continued coverage of ASP’s newly redesigned digital quarterly newsletter Frontiers in Infection Prevention. The article highlights the newsletter’s key features, noting that each issue provides up-to-date educational information, policy changes, industry news and product information from ASP to ensure that healthcare professionals are aware of the current trends in infection prevention. Similar coverage also appeared in Infection Control Today and Healthcare Purchasing News.
Healthcare Purchasing News, “APIC honors its infection prevention heroes” May 25, 2012
This article announces the winners of the 2012 APIC Heroes of Infection Prevention Award. The twelve winners are infection preventionists who have successfully reduced infection, raised awareness, and improved the health and well-being of patients, healthcare workers, and the public. APIC 2012 President Michelle Farber, RN, CIC says this year’s heroes “Embody APIC’s patient safety mission and serve as excellent role models for the infection prevention field.” APIC established the Heroes of Infection Prevention Award in 2006 to recognize infection preventionists who have served their profession in an outstanding manner. More than 80 individuals and groups have been recognized to-date for their exceptional work in reducing healthcare-associated infections. The 2012-2013 Heroes program is supported by an educational grant from Becton, Dickinson and Company.
Infection Control Today, “Healthmark Industries Launches HealthmarkGI.com” May 29, 2012
This article announces the launch of Healthmark Industries newest website, http://www.healthmarkgi.com. The website provides tools to improve the cleaning and reprocessing of flexible endoscopes.
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Connecting the dots” June 2012
This article focuses on connectivity in the Central Service department and features insight from Janet Moran, RN, BSN, MBA, CNOR, senior clinical education consultant for ASP, and other industry professionals at various organizations, such as SterilTek Professional Consulting Services, IAHCSMM, IMS, Materials Management Microsystems and STERIS Corp. In the article, Janet highlights the need for better communications between the CS and OR: “In an extremely busy environment, communication is always a challenge. With the amount of devices moving between CS and OR spaces, instrument tracking and OR scheduling tools help in clearly identifying where the instruments are needed, and improving communication between the two departments.” She adds, “Through improved documentation, tracking and scheduling functionality, the interactions between the CS and OR can be less focused on handling operational inefficiencies and more on providing improved patient care.” The piece also reports that integration capabilities and data-sharing functions are becoming increasingly common across many types of equipment and processes. The article also notes that ASP will soon be introducing a data integrity package to its STERRAD^® NX^® and STERRAD^® 100NX^® Systems that “will allow enhanced connectivity between the STERRAD® System and key instrument tracking software systems.”
Healthcare Purchasing News, “ASP launches a new edition of Frontiers in Infection Prevention” May 23, 2012
This is continued coverage of ASP’s newly redesigned digital edition of Frontiers in Infection Prevention. The article highlights the newsletter’s key features, noting that each issue provides up-to-date educational information, policy changes, industry news and product information from ASP to ensure that healthcare professionals are fully aware of the current trends in infection prevention. A link to the current issue is included in the article.
Becker’s ASC Review, “4 Tips on Surgery Center Infection Control From Industry Experts” May 22, 2012
This article provides tips to improve surgery center infection control. Industry experts note that healthcare facilities must achieve certification in infection control, follow hand hygiene protocols, use daily documentation, checklists and reminders, and revise instrument cleaning guidelines.
Healthcare Purchasing News, “Millennium Surgical Corp. develops online sterilization resource center” May 23, 2012
This article is continued coverage of Millennium Surgical Corp.’s new online sterilization tray resource center, which includes photographs and descriptions of trays used by hospital personnel, including metal and micro instrument trays that are approved for use in STERRAD^® and ETO sterilizers, and Flash (immediate use) sterilization containers.
Healthcare Purchasing News, “2012 HAI Awards celebrated at NTI’s SuperSession: Share best practices in preventing healthcare-associated infections” May 23, 2012
This article highlights the 2012 HAI Awards which were created by the HHS, CCSC, ACCP, ATS and the SCCM in 2010. Wanda L. Johanson, AACN’s chief executive officer and Don Wright, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Healthcare Quality for the HHS, announced the winners at Monday’s SuperSession. The announcement was followed by a panel discussion with all the winners on steps that can be taken to implement infection prevention best practices.
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.

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