Standardizing Ultrasound Probe Reprocessing: The Ultrasound IP Toolkit
Robert Garcia - BS, MT (ASCP, ASM), FAPIC, CIC Infection Preventionist & Consultant - takes you through the background of why the Ultrasound Infection Prevention Toolkit was created, including recent research, Spaulding classification, federal guidelines, traceability and tools for standardized infection control for ultrasounds.
In this video, Betty McGinty - RN, MSHSA, CGRN, CER, High Level Disinfection Safety and Quality Director at Northside Hospital Atlanta – discusses their experience and progress to-date with implementing the Ultrasound Infection Prevention Toolkit.
Symposium overview
As ultrasound continues to expand across the continuum of care, ensuring the efficacy and reliability of probe reprocessing can be challenging for those responsible for protecting patients from infection risk. In 2016, a group of infection prevention, sterilization and disinfection experts were convened to explore the current state of infection prevention in ultrasound and develop tools and resources to support the reliable and effective reprocessing of probes.
A major output of the group’s work was the Ultrasound Infection Prevention Toolkit. Based on guidance developed by Federal healthcare agencies, the Ultrasound IP Toolkit provides infection preventionists with a detailed framework to standardize probe reprocessing practice across the organization. This session will highlight the experience of one institution’s implementation of the Ultrasound IP Toolkit and profile their journey to standardization including the cross-disciplinary, collaborative partnerships that provided a foundation for success.
Learning Objectives
- Analyze recent research documenting outbreaks and increased infection risk from the use of ultrasound throughout healthcare
- Identify federal guidelines on endocavitary and external probe disinfection, based on the Spaulding classification
- Explain the application of the Ultrasound IP Toolkit components (‘Locate and Profile’, ‘Algorithm’, ‘Risk Assessment’ and ‘Policy’ tools) to ensure that patients are safe from infection risk
- Explain the systematic use of each tool in standardizing reprocessing, including cross-departmental engagement with hospital leadership and staff during the data collection and implementation phases