Sheila Dunn, D.A. and Sarah E. Alholm, M.A.S.
Sometimes, in the course of use, equipment is contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM). When this occurs, the equipment must be decontaminated.
OSHA states decontamination is the use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy bloodborne pathogens on a surface or item. After decontamination, pathogens are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use, or disposal.
A recent federal announcement warns about disinfectants used with electronic medical equipment. The notice from OSHA, FDA, CDC, and the EPA notifies of hazards when cleaning electronic medical equipment.
According to the bulletin, using excessive cleaning and disinfectant liquids on certain electronic medical equipment may cause equipment fires and other damage, equipment malfunctions, and healthcare worker burns. The warning is for equipment with unsealed electronic circuitry or components, including computer workstations, handheld devices, and other monitoring equipment.
Take Steps to Stay Safe
- Identify unsealed equipment. Review the labeling for any cautions, precautions, or warnings about wetting, immersing, or soaking the equipment. This notification applies to equipment labeled with these warnings.
- Ensure all staff are trained and will follow the manufacturer’s cleaning and maintenance instructions. Find training tips in the “Brush Up on Medical Equipment Decontamination Protocol” section below.
- Protect equipment from contamination whenever possible.
Position equipment to minimize contamination. Use barriers on equipment surfaces that are touched with contaminated gloved hands or when contact with spatter cannot be avoided.
- If equipment contamination is suspected, clean equipment surfaces in accordance with instructions from both the equipment manufacturer and the cleaning chemical manufacturer.
- Adhere strictly to all the chemical manufacturer’s warnings, precautions, and cautions, and carefully follow all directions for use. It’s actually illegal to use a disinfectant in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. When a disinfectant labeled for immersion is applied by wiping or spraying, disinfection may not result, especially if the product doesn’t remain wet for the required contact time.
Brush Up on Medical Equipment Decontamination Protocol
Here’s an exercise to assess how well your staff understands decontamination protocol. Choose a piece of medical equipment from your office and ask your staff what they would do to decontaminate it. Staff should keep these points in mind:
- Manufacturers of equipment and disinfectants are required to include adequate directions for decontaminating their products.
- Follow the equipment manufacturer’s directions for cleaning to remove as much soil as possible. Follow with an appropriate disinfectant used per the label instructions.
- The label instructions (manufacturer’s directions) for use are the primary source for information on disinfectants. They include information on how to apply disinfectants to the equipment and the contact time required to achieve disinfection.
It might be necessary to remove the equipment from service for thorough cleaning and disinfection. If directions are not available for any equipment or disinfectant you’re using, don’t guess – obtain a new copy of the instructions from the manufacturer.
About the Authors:
Dr. Sheila Dunn, president and CEO of Quality America, Inc., holds a doctoral degree in clinical laboratory science. Sarah Alholm, an occupational safety professional, is the OSHA product manager at Quality America.