Symposium Topics:
o Disinfection of Ultrasound Probes used for Percutaneous Procedures
o Manual Cleaning of Endoscopes: Looking Ahead to the Next Gold Standard
Ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedures encompass a broad and varied group of medical interventions involving the piercing of the skin, under the guidance of ultrasound imaging. Understanding and addressing infection prevention practices associated with these procedures has been elusive. This symposium discusses percutaneous procedures and the disinfection of ultrasound probes utilized during the application of these medical interventions.
Flexible endoscopes have been associated with the greatest number of patient infections when compared to other reusable medical devices. Evidence shows that patient ready endoscopes can remain contaminated despite high level disinfection or sterilization, warranting review of upstream processes. Ineffective manual cleaning of the inner channels is one of the major root causes of biofilm formation and failed disinfection in flexible endoscopes. This session reviews the evidence associated with manual cleaning challenges, and reviews next generation technology for addressing these issues to support patient and staff safety.
