EBME Forums Forums Management Professional Issues Nursing Issues DIRTY equipment

We have invested in one of these devices Genie - ATP Monitor

Before foramalising as a validation to reject dirty equipment - have set up evaluation protocol to randomly test 100 devices over august & september. Highest result logged so far @ 7,947 on a tympanic thermometer !.

Department has now been offered a regular training slot within Infection Control lectures to Clinical Staff in which to emphasis about cleaning equipment before service/repair. Hence am on the look out for any pictures of dirty equipment. Please email as jpegs to richard.steventon@sath.nhs.uk - Thanks

One or two to start you off in the gallery.

Some more pictures have been submitted

... I was wondering what that smell was!

I think i will cancel that pizza order! Not to hungry now!

Eddie

when I calibrate the typmanic thermometers here I find that low readings are invariably due to dirty probe tips that staff don't think to clean

mucky tip

As the issue of equipment being presented for 'service or repair' without a declaration of contamination status form (not that filling out a form is any real proof the device has even been cleaned !)- even though it is a recommendation within MHRA DB2006(05) November 2006 section 9

I have been tasked with finding out what happens elsewhere, so:
in your workplace:

Is decontamination / cleaning included in your MD Policy ?
Is all equipment presented clean ?
Do you reject 'dirty' equipment ?
How do you reject 'dirty' equipment ?
Who is responsible for cleaning the equipment ?

Obviously, these issues will always be with us, but we have to reduce the likelyhood of moving infection arround the hospital.
(as a footnote - we tend towards - No status form - we'll clean prior to working, clean again afterwards, it just increases the time spent on each repair or service - not ideal I know, but we then have a better level of assurance).

Is decontamination / cleaning included in your MD Policy ?
Sort of
Is all equipment presented clean ?
Mostly
Do you reject 'dirty' equipment ?
Yes
How do you reject 'dirty' equipment ?
It is returned to sender without any remedial work having been carried out.
Who is responsible for cleaning the equipment ?
The "Nurse" who used the equipment or they may delegate to others (Housekeepers etc) however the nurse is the person responsible, she (or he) will know if the equipment has been exposed to bodily fluids etc and the medical condition of the patient from this knowledge they can ensure the equipment is cleaned/decontaminated in an appropriate manner.

As for your foot note how do you know what standard to clean/decontaminate to?
As for cleaning items when they come in; I haven't got time to send this email let alone clean up after everyone else. Do the staff not clean items between patients?

Lee

A couple of contaminated suction pumps tossed in the incinerator generally gets the Ward Managers' attention.