PRODUCTS & SERVICES
High-Level Disinfection vs. A
ccording to the article “Disinfection and Sterilization in Health Care Facilities: An Overview and Current Issues” by William A. Rutala, Ph.D., M.P.H. and David J. Weber, M.D., M.P.H., published in ScienceDirect, achieving disinfection and sterilization through the use of disinfectants and sterilization practices is imperative for making sure that medical and surgical instru- ments do not transmit infectious pathogens to patients.
Of course, it is not necessary, or frankly, even possible to sterilize all items related to patient care, hospital policies need to identify whether the items need cleaning, disinfection, or sterilization. Policies at facilities depend on the item’s intended use, manufacturer’s recommendations, and guidelines. The article states that “When properly used, disinfection and sterilization can ensure the safe use of invasive and noninvasive medical devices. The method of disinfection and ster- ilization depends on the intended use of the medical device: critical items (contact sterile tissue) must be sterilized before use; semi- critical items (contact mucous membranes or nonintact skin) must be high-level disin- fected; and noncritical items (contact intact skin) should receive low-level disinfection. Cleaning should always precede high-level disinfection and sterilization. Current disin- fection and sterilization guidelines must be strictly followed.”
Healthcare Purchasing News (HPN) inter- viewed two leaders on the differences between high-level disinfection (HLD) and sterilization, specifically. With hospitals
and health systems being understaffed and overloaded, how are they handling educa- tion for staff? What are the challenges and trends today?
Educating staff When it comes to educating staff on the difference between HLD and sterilization, Chasity Seymour, BSHM, CST, CHL, CRCST, CIS, AGTS, clinical education specialist, mid-southern region, STERIS says that “Healthcare facilities offer staff a variety of methods to learn about HLD and sterilization. Using IFUs, Wallcharts, and other man- ufacturer educational collateral is very com- mon. Equipment and consumable vendor in-servicing, CE education (Webinars, Live presentations, conferences, seminars), and any regulatory recommendations or requirements received from credentialing and government agencies based on changes in the industry or infectious outbreaks also drive education into this area.” She adds, “Few facilities require certifi ca- tions of staff that would assist staff in under- standing the differences related to HLD and sterilization. There are some exceptions where state regulators mandate staff be certifi ed in Sterile Processing. HSPA and CBSPD provide certifi cations specifi c to endoscope processing.”
Chasity Seymour
Jan Prudent, BA, CRCST, CIS, CER, CHL, CFER is sterile processing manager at Eastern
28 December 2023 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS •
hpnonline.com
Sterilization: Education is Key Healthcare Purchasing News received an update on the current landscape surrounding HLD vs. sterilization from industry experts
Idaho Medical Center. She also currently serves as HSPA’s Secretary/Treasurer. Prudent says, “First of all, everything that can be ster- ilized is sterilized in our facility. We require all staff to obtain their CRCST cer- tifi cation. Once they have their base certifi cation, staff are encouraged to obtain the CER and CIS certifi ca- tions. We have in-services and trainings at least quarterly for equipment, endoscopes, quality audits and recording of data.” Damien Berg, BA, BS, CRCST, AAMIF, HSPA’s VP of strategic initiatives, says, “It is always important to edu- cate each employee about decontamination and ster- ilization basics as well as orient them to microbiol- ogy basics and the science behind the processes they will perform. This can be done by dedicated sterile processing educators or managers during employee orientation, upon hire and at set intervals, and manufacturer in-service train- ing can also be benefi cial. Specifi c to HLD and sterilization, technicians should be taught the key differences: HLD can be expected to destroy microbial organisms but not all bacterial spores. Sterilization, on the other hand, eliminates microbes, including bacterial spores, but will not be appropriate for all items being processed (based on the intended use or clearance of the device).”
Jan Prudent Damien Berg
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