Pathogens such as C difficile can be transmitted through non-critical items, which means that proper disinfection of these tools is crucial, according to an article on the MD Magazine website.
Non-critical items are those that come into contact with intact skin only and are handled by healthcare facility personnel, often being used on multiple patients, the article said.
A recent report from the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System evaluated the disinfection of noncritical items in the intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU staff members.
The study found that non-ICU staff members were more knowledgeable about which personnel was responsible for disinfecting the non-critical items. But only 6 percent of responders could correctly identify a non-critical item, the authors wrote.
Why New Era of Care Demands an Ambulatory Facilities Approach
ClearSky Health Plans New Medical Rehabilitation Hospital in North Carolina
Bacon County Health Services Reports Data Breach
Building Around Care: Lessons in Modernizing Active Healthcare Environments
St. Luke's Heart Hospital Opens at Anderson Campus in Pennsylvania