The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America released guidance on how hospitals and healthcare providers can reduce infections related to anesthesiology procedures and equipment in the operating room, Medical Xpress reports.
Here are 10 key recommendations:
1. Perform hand hygiene before aseptic tasks, after glove removal, when hands are soiled, before touching the anesthesia cart and upon room entry and exit.
2. Strategically place alcohol-based hand sanitizer dispensers in ORs.
3. Use double gloves during airway management so a layer can be removed when contamination is likely and the speed of the procedure prevents hand hygiene procedures.
4. Use high-level disinfection of reusable laryngoscope handles or adopt single-use laryngoscopes.
5. Disinfect high-touch surfaces on the anesthesia machines, keyboards, monitors and other items in work areas between surgeries.
6. Explore the use of disposable covers and consider redesigning work surfaces to facilitate quick decontamination.
7. Use IV drug injection syringes and vials for only one patient.
8. Only access injection ports and vial stoppers after disinfection.
9. Implement the recommendations above using multilevel collaboration, regular monitoring and evaluation and continuous feedback.
10. Ensure leaders clearly define expectations and goals, remove barriers to infection prevention and equip practitioners with the tools necessary to meet standards.