Here are five tools for surgery centers to use toward improved infection control processes.
1. Caterpillar endoscopic channel brushes. The Caterpillar from Cygnus Medical is one of the first of its kind designed specifically to be pulled through the biopsy and suction channels. Traditional brushes are less than one inch long and must be pushed through, but the Caterpillar's pull-through design stops brush buckling from occurring. Its length can be increased to one foot long.
2. Blood stream infection toolkit. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality offers a free central line-associated blood stream infection toolkit through its program On the CUSP: Stop BSI, which uses the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program to prevent CLABSIs. The toolkit was prepared by the Johns Hopkins Quality and Safety Research Group and the Michigan Health and Hospital Association Keystone Center for Patient Safety & Quality.
3. Simple2 Enzymatic Detergent. Simple2 detergent from Cygnus Medical is a multi-enzyme solution that dissolves blood, fat, protein, tissue and organic materials. It has a neutral pH and can be used for all types of surgical instruments. It's also low-foaming, non-toxic and latex-free.
4. Blood-borne pathogen toolkit. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries offers a free, downloadable toolkit to prevent and control occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The log includes documents for training, post-exposure evaluation, hepatitis B vaccination, sharps injury log and an exposure plan control.
5. Safe injection checklist. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a free, downloadable checklist to help improve compliance to safe injection practices. The checklist, which can be utilized in both inpatient and outpatient settings, should be used to systematically assess adherence of healthcare personnel to safe injection practices. The checklist includes space to specify corrective action plans if a healthcare professional has not complied with a safe injection practice.
More Articles on Infection Control:
4 Lessons Learned From Neurosurgical SSI Project
Patient Safety Tool: 3 Hand Hygiene Videos
13 Patient Safety, Joint Commission Compliance Strategies From IHI Forum
1. Caterpillar endoscopic channel brushes. The Caterpillar from Cygnus Medical is one of the first of its kind designed specifically to be pulled through the biopsy and suction channels. Traditional brushes are less than one inch long and must be pushed through, but the Caterpillar's pull-through design stops brush buckling from occurring. Its length can be increased to one foot long.
2. Blood stream infection toolkit. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality offers a free central line-associated blood stream infection toolkit through its program On the CUSP: Stop BSI, which uses the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program to prevent CLABSIs. The toolkit was prepared by the Johns Hopkins Quality and Safety Research Group and the Michigan Health and Hospital Association Keystone Center for Patient Safety & Quality.
3. Simple2 Enzymatic Detergent. Simple2 detergent from Cygnus Medical is a multi-enzyme solution that dissolves blood, fat, protein, tissue and organic materials. It has a neutral pH and can be used for all types of surgical instruments. It's also low-foaming, non-toxic and latex-free.
4. Blood-borne pathogen toolkit. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries offers a free, downloadable toolkit to prevent and control occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The log includes documents for training, post-exposure evaluation, hepatitis B vaccination, sharps injury log and an exposure plan control.
5. Safe injection checklist. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a free, downloadable checklist to help improve compliance to safe injection practices. The checklist, which can be utilized in both inpatient and outpatient settings, should be used to systematically assess adherence of healthcare personnel to safe injection practices. The checklist includes space to specify corrective action plans if a healthcare professional has not complied with a safe injection practice.
More Articles on Infection Control:
4 Lessons Learned From Neurosurgical SSI Project
Patient Safety Tool: 3 Hand Hygiene Videos
13 Patient Safety, Joint Commission Compliance Strategies From IHI Forum
