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- Title
Risk of Patient Infection From Heating Appliances Used to Produce Thermoplastic Immobilization Devices.
- Authors
Brewer, Patricia Sledge; Ravine, Terrence J.; Bru, Sarah E.
- Abstract
Purpose. To determine whether heating appliances used to fabricate customized thermoplastic immobilization devices carry a disease transmission risk. Background. Current literature provides ample evidence that water baths used in health care settings are potential reservoirs for microorganisms associated with patient infections. Such results suggest a similar potential for heating appliances used to fabricate thermoplastic forms. Methods. The authors conducted on-site surveys of both equipment and procedures used to produce immobilization forms in several medical facilities. Each heating appliance was sampled for its microbial content and the data analyzed for growth trends. Results. Twelve heating appliances were sampled. Five (42%) demonstrated bacterial growth on the lid, base surfaces, or both. The recovered bacteria included coagulase-negative Staphylococcus alone (25%), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium species (~8%), and Bacillus species (~8%). Study findings indicated that 4 of the 12 heating appliances were not specifically designed for immobilization form preparation. Discussion. Lids contaminated with common skin microbial flora suggest lack of gloved or cleaned hands. Warm-up times and water temperatures varied over the range of devices and water appearance did not always correlate with culture results. Nevertheless, the absence of written protocols for the use and maintenance of heating appliances at all sites suggests opportunities for quality improvement because a contaminated heating appliance is a potential disease transmission source. Conclusion. The use of heating appliances carries an inherent risk for infectious agent transmission; however, this risk can be substantially reduced by applying basic infection control procedures.
- Subjects
RADIATION therapy equipment; CROSS infection prevention; ALLIED health personnel; BACTERIA; CANCER patients; PREVENTION of communicable diseases; DISINFECTION &; disinfectants; HEAT; HOST-bacteria relationships; INTERVIEWING; MEDICAL protocols; MICROBIAL contamination; QUALITY control; RADIOTHERAPY; STAINS &; staining (Microscopy); STERILIZATION (Disinfection); SURVEYS; AQUATIC microbiology; QUALITATIVE research; QUANTITATIVE research; DATA analysis software; MEDICAL equipment contamination
- Publication
Radiation Therapist, 2014, Vol 23, Issue 2, p125
- ISSN
1084-1911
- Publication type
Article