TV Probe Sterilisation Protocol Review Valerie Vega.pptx

TV Probe Sterilisation Protocol Review

1. Evaluation of Transvaginal Probe Sterilisation Workplace Protocols By Valerie Vega

2. Transvaginal Ultrasound: Invasive Procedure with High Infection Risk Transvaginal probes get into contact with mucous membranes THERE ARE Documented infection risks: HPV, HSV, HIV THERE IS A Significant importance on thorough cleaning & disinfection AIM OF THIS PROTOCOL REVIEW IS TO compare the current workplace protocol with best-practice guidelines TV ultrasound probe with sterile cover (Clinical Services Journal, 2024).

3. Current Workplace Protocol Use of probe covers for all transvaginal exams and sterile gel Manual cleaning followed by high-level disinfection in OPal solution OPAl solution in a container Solution is tested, replaced every 14 days NO logging of probe immersion or removal times Patient identifiers not recorded during disinfection Probes stored on table with blue pad post-processing

4. Current Best Practice Guidelines Manual high-level disinfection instructions for ultrasound probes using OPAL® solution (Whiteley Medical, n.d.). ASUM & ACIPC (2017): Probes are semi-critical: High Level Disinfection mandatory with documentation NHMRC (2019): Infection prevention requires verifiable reprocessing steps ASUM (2022): Disinfection protocols must include contact time and traceability logs Manufacturer IFUs: Must log contact times and comply with chemical use guidelines ASUM, 2017; NHMRC, 2019

5. Evaluation of current workplace protocol Use of opal solution meets High Level Disinfection standards The Absence of logging immersion and removal times undermines traceability Solution testing is required to ensure that the “minimum effective concentration” is present Lack of recording of patient details increases infection control risk Storage and handling practices need improvement Could make a small improvement of installing a wall mounted holder for the probes post processing to replace the blue pad on the table ASUM & ACIPC, 2017

6. Bringing Protocol into alignment with Best Practice Standard Maintain use of OPAl solution for High level disinfection Implement logging of probe disinfection start and end times Record patient details for traceability and infection control auditing Introduce staff training and standardised documentation templates within workplace If expense was able to be accounted, a Trophon machine is another potential option that could be adopted. Validated soaking tray for ultrasound transducers (Canada Medical, n.d., SignNow , n.d.).

7. REFERENCE LIST: Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM) & Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC). (2017). Guidelines for reprocessing ultrasound transducers. Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine , 20(1), 30–40. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajum.12034 Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine. (2022). Infection control and probe reprocessing update. https://www.asum.com.au Canada Medical. (n.d.). Ultrasound transducer soaking tray – CV610-584 [Image]. https://www.canadamedical.net/media/catalog/product/cache/212874cd37c9a798e52b53952a1fcdf3/1/7/1709605682_cv610-584.jpg Clinical Services Journal. (2024, November 27). Disinfection of transvaginal ultrasound probes [Image]. https://www.clinicalservicesjournal.com/story/46617/disinfection-of-transvaginal-ultrasound-probes National Health and Medical Research Council. (2019). Australian guidelines for the prevention and control of infection in healthcare. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au Whiteley Medical. (n.d.). How to use OPAL® for manual disinfection of ultrasound probes [Image]. Whiteley Corporation Pty Ltd. https://www.whiteley.com.au