One reason for taking precautions when using complex phenols for disinfection is that they
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Phenolic household disinfectants--further precautions requiredR DeBono et al. Burns. 1997 Mar. AbstractPhenolic disinfectants (e.g. Meytol, Dettol, etc.) are widely used for domestic purposes. Instructions on the bottles are clearly given with regards to the dilutions that should be used. In domestic cleaning, these instructions are often ignored and higher concentrations are used with the thinking that 'the more I pour, the cleaner it gets!'. Furthermore, cleaning equipment is sometimes stored without prior rinsing with fresh water. As water evaporates much faster than phenol, the solution on stored mops/ brushes, etc. becomes progressively more and more concentrated and can cause chemical burns when these utensils are handled at a later time. We therefore suggest that two further instructions should be added to the usual instructions on bottles of household phenolic disinfectants, namely: 'wear gloves when performing domestic cleaning' and 'wash all cleaning equipment with plenty of fresh water after use'. We support this by a case report of a 65-year-old man who sustained full-thickness, painless chemical burns to his right hand after handling a moist mop which had been used for cleaning a carpet with a phenolic household disinfectant solution 2 days earlier. Similar articles
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7.a. To detect damaged endoscopes, test each flexible endoscope for leaks as part of each reprocessing cycle. Remove from clinical use any instrument that fails the leak test, and repair this instrument. II 7.b. Immediately after use, meticulously clean the endoscope with an enzymatic cleaner that is compatible with the endoscope. Cleaning is necessary before both automated and manual disinfection. IA 7.c. Disconnect and disassemble endoscopic components (e.g., suction valves) as completely as possible and completely immerse all components in the enzymatic cleaner. Steam sterilize these components if they are heat stable. IB 7.d. Flush and brush all accessible channels to remove all organic (e.g., blood, tissue) and other residue. Clean the external surfaces and accessories of the devices by using a soft cloth or sponge or brushes. Continue brushing until no debris appears on the brush. IA 7.e. Use cleaning brushes appropriate for the size of the endoscope channel or port (e.g., bristles should contact surfaces). Cleaning items (e.g., brushes, cloth) should be disposable or, if they are not disposable, they should be thoroughly cleaned and either high-level disinfected or sterilized after each use. II 7.f. Discard enzymatic cleaners (or detergents) after each use because they are not microbicidal and, therefore, will not retard microbial growth. IB 7.g. Process endoscopes (e.g., arthroscopes, cystoscope, laparoscopes) that pass through normally sterile tissues using a sterilization procedure before each use; if this is not feasible, provide at least high-level disinfection. High-level disinfection of arthroscopes, laparoscopes, and cystoscope should be followed by a sterile water rinse. IB 7.h. Phase out endoscopes that are critical items (e.g., arthroscopes, laparoscopes) but cannot be steam sterilized. Replace these endoscopes with steam sterilizable instruments when feasible. II 7.i. Mechanically clean reusable accessories inserted into endoscopes (e.g., biopsy forceps or other cutting instruments) that break the mucosal barrier (e.g., ultrasonically clean biopsy forceps) and then sterilize these items between each patient. IA 7.j. Use ultrasonic cleaning of reusable endoscopic accessories to remove soil and organic material from hard-to-clean areas. II 7.k. Process endoscopes and accessories that contact mucous membranes as semicritical items, and use at least high-level disinfection after use on each patient. IA 7.l. Use an FDA-cleared sterilant or high-level disinfectant for sterilization or high-level disinfection (Table 1). IA 7.m. After cleaning, use formulations containing glutaraldehyde, glutaraldehyde with phenol/phenate, ortho-phthalaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and both hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid to achieve high-level disinfection followed by rinsing and drying (see Table 1 for recommended concentrations). IB 7.n. Extend exposure times beyond the minimum effective time for disinfecting semicritical patient-care equipment cautiously and conservatively because extended exposure to a high-level disinfectant is more likely to damage delicate and intricate instruments such as flexible endoscopes. The exposure times vary among the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared high-level disinfectants (Table 2). IB 7.o. Federal regulations are to follow the FDA-cleared label claim for high-level disinfectants. The FDA-cleared labels for high-level disinfection with >2% glutaraldehyde at 25ºC range from 20-90 minutes, depending upon the product based on three tier testing which includes AOAC sporicidal tests, simulated use testing with mycobacterial and in-use testing. IC 7.p. Several scientific studies and professional organizations support the efficacy of >2% glutaraldehyde for 20 minutes at 20ºC; that efficacy assumes adequate cleaning prior to disinfection, whereas the FDA-cleared label claim incorporates an added margin of safety to accommodate possible lapses in cleaning practices. Facilities that have chosen to apply the 20 minute duration at 20ºC have done so based on the IA recommendation in the July 2003 SHEA position paper, “Multi-society Guideline for Reprocessing Flexible Gastrointestinal Endoscopes” Flexible GI Endoscope Reprocessing [June 2011]7.q. When using FDA-cleared high-level disinfectants, use manufacturers’ recommended exposure conditions. Certain products may require a shorter exposure time (e.g., 0.55% ortho-phthalaldehyde for 12 minutes at 20ºC, 7.35% hydrogen peroxide plus 0.23% peracetic acid for 15 minutes at 20ºC) than glutaraldehyde at room temperature because of their rapid inactivation of mycobacteria or reduced exposure time because of increased mycobactericidal activity at elevated temperature (e.g., 2.5% glutaraldehyde at 5 minutes at 35ºC). IB 7.r. Select a disinfectant or chemical sterilant that is compatible with the device that is being reprocessed. Avoid using reprocessing chemicals on an endoscope if the endoscope manufacturer warns against using these chemicals because of functional damage (with or without cosmetic damage). IB 7.s. Completely immerse the endoscope in the high-level disinfectant, and ensure all channels are perfused. As soon as is feasible, phase out nonimmersible endoscopes. IB 7.t. After high-level disinfection, rinse endoscopes and flush channels with sterile water, filtered water, or tapwater to prevent adverse effects on patients associated with disinfectant retained in the endoscope (e.g., disinfectant induced colitis). Follow this water rinse with a rinse with 70% – 90% ethyl or isopropyl alcohol. IB 7.u. After flushing all channels with alcohol, purge the channels using forced air to reduce the likelihood of contamination of the endoscope by waterborne pathogens and to facilitate drying. IB 7.v. Hang endoscopes in a vertical position to facilitate drying. II 7.w. Store endoscopes in a manner that will protect them from damage or contamination. II 7.x. Sterilize or high-level disinfect both the water bottle used to provide intraprocedural flush solution and its connecting tube at least once daily. After sterilizing or high-level disinfecting the water bottle, fill it with sterile water. IB 7.y. Maintain a log for each procedure and record the following: patient’s name and medical record number (if available), procedure, date, endoscopist, system used to reprocess the endoscope (if more than one system could be used in the reprocessing area), and serial number or other identifier of the endoscope used. II 7.z. Design facilities where endoscopes are used and disinfected to provide a safe environment for healthcare workers and patients. Use air-exchange equipment (e.g., the ventilation system, out-exhaust ducts) to minimize exposure of all persons to potentially toxic vapors (e.g., glutaraldehyde vapor). Do not exceed the allowable limits of the vapor concentration of the chemical sterilant or high-level disinfectant (e.g., those of ACGIH and OSHA). IB, IC7.aa. Routinely test the liquid sterilant/high-level disinfectant to ensure minimal effective concentration of the active ingredient. Check the solution each day of use (or more frequently) using the appropriate chemical indicator (e.g., glutaraldehyde chemical indicator to test minimal effective concentration of glutaraldehyde) and document the results of this testing. Discard the solution if the chemical indicator shows the concentration is less than the minimum effective concentration. Do not use the liquid sterilant/high-level disinfectant beyond the reuse-life recommended by the manufacturer (e.g., 14 days for ortho-phthalaldehyde). IA7.ab. * Provide personnel assigned to reprocess endoscopes with device-specific reprocessing instructions to ensure proper cleaning and high-level disinfection or sterilization. Require competency testing on a regular basis (e.g., beginning of employment, annually) of all personnel who reprocess endoscopes. IA7.ac. * Educate all personnel who use chemicals about the possible biologic, chemical, and environmental hazards of performing procedures that require disinfectants. IB, IC7.ad. * Make PPE(e.g., gloves, gowns, eyewear, face mask or shields, respiratory protection devices) available and use these items appropriately to protect workers from exposure to both chemicals and microorganisms (e.g., HBV). IB, IC7.ae. * If using an automated endoscope reprocessor (AER), place the endoscope in the reprocessor and attach all channel connectors according to the AER manufacturer’s instructions to ensure exposure of all internal surfaces to the high-level disinfectant/chemical sterilant. IB7.af. * 7.ag. * Review the FDA advisories and the scientific literature for reports of deficiencies that can lead to infection because design flaws and improper operation and practices have compromised the effectiveness of AERs. II7.ah. * Develop protocols to ensure that users can readily identify an endoscope that has been properly processed and is ready for patient use. II7.ai. * Do not use the carrying case designed to transport clean and reprocessed endoscopes outside of the healthcare environment to store an endoscope or to transport the instrument within the healthcare environment. II7.aj. * No recommendation is made about routinely performing microbiologic testing of either endoscopes or rinse water for quality assurance purposes. Unresolved Issue7.ak. * If environmental microbiologic testing is conducted, use standard microbiologic techniques. II7.al. * If a cluster of endoscopy-related infections occurs, investigate potential routes of transmission (e.g., person-to-person, common source) and reservoirs. IA7.am. * Report outbreaks of endoscope-related infections to persons responsible for institutional infection control and risk management and to FDA. IB7.am.1. * Notify the local and the state health departments, CDC, and the manufacturer(s) II7.an. * No recommendation is made regarding the reprocessing of an endoscope again immediately before use if that endoscope has been processed after use according to the recommendations in this guideline. Unresolved issue7.ao. * Compare the reprocessing instructions provided by both the endoscope’s and the AER’s manufacturer’s instructions and resolve any conflicting recommendations. IBWhat is the purpose of pre cleaning a surface?Why do I have to clean before I disinfect? The reason for cleaning surfaces before disinfecting is that when you clean a surface, you remove soil and contaminants that would otherwise interfere with a disinfectant's efficacy.
Which of the following is the best method used to decontaminate?Sterilization, disinfection, and antisepsis are all forms of decontamination. All infectious materials and all contaminated equipment or apparatus should be decontaminated before being washed, stored, or discarded. Autoclaving is the preferred method.
Which highOPA is effective in achieving high-level disinfection within 12 minutes at room temperature. It is more expensive than glutaraldehydes but may be a good alternative for individuals with a sensitivity to glutaraldehydes. It has very little odor and does not require activation or mixing.
Why is it important to use surface barriers and to disinfect treatment rooms?The purpose of surface barriers is to prevent contamination of the surface or equipment and reduce the need to clean and disinfect that surface or equipment before reuse [5]. Barrier protection is the most efficient way to protect difficult-to-clean, electronic, and smaller surfaces.
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