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About the Video
Presented by Amy Nichols at the APIC Annual Conference 2018 in the Satellite Symposium “Ultrasound Use and Reprocessing: Snapshot of Current Practice and Launch of a Toolkit for Infection Preventionists”
This toolkit has been assembled in consultation with clinical experts with backgrounds in infection prevention and instrument reprocessing.
The objective in developing this toolkit has been to provide a resource regarding infection prevention during the use and reprocessing of ultrasound probes.
The IP toolkit components
The IP toolkit components are summarised below and each tool can be downloaded individually
Tool 1
Locate ＆ Profile
Tool 1 :
Locate ＆ Profile
Part A lists strategies that can help locate ultrasound machines in your facility. Locating ultrasound machines can be a challenging task, as they may move around, be uncatalogued, or may be unknown to personnel with responsibility for probe use and reprocessing.
After locating ultrasound machines with the Locate tool, Part B is an audit tool that can be used to observe and assess procedure-specific ultrasound policy and practice. First record the procedure and department, then work through the profile form.
The questions guide the user through their policy and an observation checklist is provided to record actual practice. The tool leads the user to an action plan if there is no policy, or if there are discrepancies among policy, practice and guidelines.
Download Locate and Profile Tool
Tool 2
Algorithm
Tool 2 :
Algorithm
This tool is organized by department and provides a range of typical procedures that may be encountered in that department. Probe use and reprocessing requirements based on CDC guidelines and AAMI standards are presented as a decision making algorithm.
The flow chart can be printed out and displayed throughout office and procedure rooms, and used as a quick reference chart for healthcare workers to determine whether practice is compliant with available guidelines.
Tool 3
Risk Assessment
Tool 3 :
Risk Assessment
This tool contains four editable templates designed to guide the assessment of potential hazards that may be encountered during the use and reprocessing (cleaning, disinfection, storage) of ultrasound probes.
A sample risk matrix is provided with further instructions for completion. A facility should aim to mitigate all significant harm to the lowest risk rating. If that is not possible, the existing workflow and/or products should be reconsidered.
Tool 4
Policy Development Framework
Tool 4 :
Policy Development Framework
This tool is a policy development framework designed to help develop infection prevention policies for all settings where ultrasound technology is used and probes are reprocessed.
It can be used to develop a universal hospital policy or a department specific policy and has been developed based on major guidelines, standards and evidence based scientific literature.
