Disinfection of reusable medical equipment
Research project for ESRI (European Sleep Research Institute) in collaboration with Centexbel.
Safe, traceable and guaranteed hygienic cleaning of medical equipment is a growing market, as the use of medical devices in healthcare is increasing strongly and healthcare organisations are outsourcing this, given the complexity and specificity, more and more externally. Healthcare institutions rely on external companies for the maintenance (hygiene and/or sterilisation), stock management, delivery, etc. of their reusable tools, such as alternating pressure matresses.
Due to increasing problems with resistant pathogens, hygienic rules are becoming stricter. In daily practice, these materials are cleaned and disinfected by hand, which on the one hand often causes them to be cleaned and disinfected insufficiently, and on the other hand makes a validation of the process nearly imposssible.
Because of this rapid development, it has become increasingly important to carefully choose the right cleaning procedures.
On July 13, 2012, an article in the Flemish newspaper De Standaard again focused on the problem of resistant germs. For a company such as ESRI (European Sleep Research Institute), it is crucial to get an insight into the current state of the available technologies and develop an effective procedure.
This research project aims to find the most efficient method of disinfection and traceability. Both of these are of great importance and closely intertwined. Based on the most appropriate method of disinfection, a suitable tracing system will be chosen, as the latter depends on the first.
Therefore, we want to find an answer to the following research questions:
Based on the gathered knowledge, we will set up a pilot study in which a complete 'matress wash', in accordance with all scientific knowledge. This setup and the developed methodology for tracking the goods will then be controlled and tested clinically.
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Safe, traceable and guaranteed hygienic cleaning of medical equipment is a growing market, as the use of medical devices in healthcare is increasing strongly and healthcare organisations are outsourcing this, given the complexity and specificity, more and more externally. Healthcare institutions rely on external companies for the maintenance (hygiene and/or sterilisation), stock management, delivery, etc. of their reusable tools, such as alternating pressure matresses.
Due to increasing problems with resistant pathogens, hygienic rules are becoming stricter. In daily practice, these materials are cleaned and disinfected by hand, which on the one hand often causes them to be cleaned and disinfected insufficiently, and on the other hand makes a validation of the process nearly imposssible.
Because of this rapid development, it has become increasingly important to carefully choose the right cleaning procedures.
On July 13, 2012, an article in the Flemish newspaper De Standaard again focused on the problem of resistant germs. For a company such as ESRI (European Sleep Research Institute), it is crucial to get an insight into the current state of the available technologies and develop an effective procedure.
This research project aims to find the most efficient method of disinfection and traceability. Both of these are of great importance and closely intertwined. Based on the most appropriate method of disinfection, a suitable tracing system will be chosen, as the latter depends on the first.
Therefore, we want to find an answer to the following research questions:
- What guidelines/standards/regulations on hygiene in reusable medical devices are there in Belgium?
- Which contaminants/pollutants must be taken into account?
- How do we measure and thus monitor a good quality of cleaning and disinfection? How is this applicable in an operational environment?
- Which protocols and techniques are there in relation to cleaning and disinfection, and are these effective?
- Which tracking technology (which withstands the washing and cleaning process) can be applied to reproduce the history of a reusable material correctly?
- Which tracking technology allows to have all necessary information available continuously (e.g. production cycle, properties of the material, ...)
Based on the gathered knowledge, we will set up a pilot study in which a complete 'matress wash', in accordance with all scientific knowledge. This setup and the developed methodology for tracking the goods will then be controlled and tested clinically.
Back