Dirty Little Secrets
Infection control expert Nancy Andrews answers your questions
By Nancy Andrews, RDH, BS
Editor’s Note: Are your customers asking tough hygiene questions? Here is your chance to ask someone "In the Know." Nancy Andrews, RDH, BS, will take your questions and tell your tales. Pulling from centuries of experience, endless education, lots of research, and occasional consultation with other experts, Nancy invites your emails at Infectioncontrol@mdsi.org. The best question or tale at the end of the year gets $100.
Removing barriers
Q: I’m selling more surface barriers these days, but the loose ones are sometimes sloppy, and the sticky ones are too hard to remove. In one office, the paint was pulled off of a drawer when they removed it. What do you suggest?
A: Barrier film stays in place because of the tacky side, but you’re right - most stick-on sheets are really hard to work with if the two sticky sides connect. Covering a surface or item with a plastic barrier that lightly adheres and stays avoids contamination, saving the time and effort of cleaning and disinfecting the covered surfaces between patients. This is particularly important for any areas that are difficult to reach, clean, or disinfect, such as items with complex shapes. The idea is to save time, but not if you’re fighting with the plastic to get it off, and not if it leaves sticky residue or removes paint. Try Surface Barrier Film with a non-stick edge. It makes lifting the plastic sheet off a surface or separating two sheets easier, even with gloves on. Some surfaces will not be able to stand up to barrier film, so check with the manufacturers about recommended applications.
Prickly situation
Q: I’m worried about a very nice customer. She told me she has gotten stuck at least three times by the "blunt" side of used anesthetic needles - the part that penetrates the anesthetic cartridge, and that she has never reported it because it’s not a risk. She feels it’s not a risk because it isn’t the part of the needle that gets contaminated. What would you tell her?
A: You’re right to be worried. If your customer isn’t aware that blood and other fluids might be retracted through the needle, she does not understand her risk for bloodborne exposures. This might reflect a lack of OSHA and infection control training, or poor basic science understanding. I’d suggest explaining the risk to her, and anyone else in the office you have a rapport with. Make sure they also understand that used cartridges are potentially contaminated, because body fluids can be drawn back through the needle when the operator aspirates to be sure they are not injecting into a vein or artery. If your company hosts infection control continuing education events, maybe you should encourage (or even incentivize) the office to attend. Then you can clue in the presenter about the problems you are aware of in your area and have the issues addressed by an infection control "authority."
|
|
|
