Re: JCAHO, infection control, and ultrasound gel

[Guest guest]

Carol,

We just added a section to our departmental infection control policy

regarding this same issue. We undergo JCAHO survey in June. Our new policy

states that once a week, ultrasound gel bottles are washed out with soap and

water, then rinsed with isopropyl rubbing alcohol and thoroughly dried before

refilling. We keep a cleaning log and so far it has been working well. We

just be sure not to fill the bottles very full so we don't end up wasting

loads of gel. Our infection control nurse ok'd this for us.

It is very expensive to do disposable bottles, so we instituted this instead.

If you adopt this policy, I would love to hear back from you after your

survey.

Hope this helps!

Jill Piazza, MSPT

Rehab Services Manager

Florida Hospital DeLand

[Guest guest]

I have not heard of this practice (fairly common in the industry) being an

issue with infection control or JCAHO in the past. ly, I am more

concerned about infection transfer and proper cleaner with the ultrasound

transducer between patients.

In any event, our use of US has decreased due to paucity of evidence.

Ed Dobrzykowski, PT, ATC, MHS

Tacoma, WA

[Guest guest]

Ed:

On the topic of paucity of evidence, is there any evidence that use

of ultrasound gel in refillable containers can be a breeding ground

for germs?

- Simonetti, PT

Chestertown, MD

> I have not heard of this practice (fairly common in the industry)

being an

> issue with infection control or JCAHO in the past. ly, I am

more

> concerned about infection transfer and proper cleaner with the

ultrasound

> transducer between patients.

> In any event, our use of US has decreased due to paucity of

evidence.

> Ed Dobrzykowski, PT, ATC, MHS

> Tacoma, WA

>

>

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