In Nata, Botswana on the African continent medical supplies are scarce.  The tiny clinic that serves the population of this remote village has learned to make do with whatever they can find.  In December the staff posted a plea for funds to buy a new stove.  They had been using an old fashioned pressure cooker to sterilize medical instruments.  When the gas stove finally broke down they could no longer perform even simple surgical procedures.  Turning away patients in need was heartbreaking since the nearest surgical hospital is 120 miles distant - an impossible journey for impoverished villagers.  Instruments now have to be sent to the nearest location with a sterilizer (60 miles away in Gweta).  Transporting the sterile items over such long distances greatly increases the risk that they will be re-contaminated during the journey back.

The clinic asked for just $150 in donations to buy a working stove.  Instead, they received enough money to finally purchase an inexpensive autoclave of their own along with other equipment.  The purchase was initially delayed because they could not find an available unit in the correct size for their facility.  However, staff members were able to move forward with the purchase of a set of high quality scales.  Now, for the first time, they can weigh visitors accurately and prescribe medication dosage accordingly.

As of March 2009, the Nata clinic has finally found the correct autoclave for their purposes.  It cost less than $1,800 USD so the price and the size are both right!   Staff members are eagerly awaiting delivery of the equipment.  Shipping goods in and out of the region takes time, so hopefully they can get up and running soon.  With the ability to sterilize instruments restored once more, the medical personnel on staff will be able to help patients promptly and efficiently.  They currently serve over 2,500 patients a month and are open 24/7 to meet the needs of as many people as they can.  One of the next items on the clinic’s wish list is a working fax/copier machine so that they can communicate with other health care facilities.  In a country where travel is difficult, being able to send documents and information instantly will be a real benefit.

More About Nata, Botswana

Although the clinic and associated organizations have been able to raise almost $50,000 over the years, this merely scratches the surface of the needs in this village.  Donations are used to cover everything from medicines to clothing and school supplies.  One of the most important services this money makes possible is the transport program for people living with AIDS.  The 60 mile trip to the ARV clinic in Getwa costs $4 - a price that many in Nata simply cannot afford.

The HIV infection rate in Nata is even higher than the national average of 24% in the rest of Botswana.  Almost 50% of pregnant women in the village are HIV positive.  Over 400 children in the village have been orphaned by AIDS.  Botswana does have progressive programs in place to treat existing patients and reduce the spread of HIV; but this is still an uphill battle when accessing treatment is so difficult.

In conditions where even the most basic equipment such as a sterilizer is out of reach for so many local clinics, the situation is desperate.  Some autoclaves can be refurbished by the manufacturer and resold at a cost that charitable organizations or donors can afford.  If your medical facility or laboratory has outgrown its current sterilizing equipment, it may be time to upgrade to a model with a larger capacity.  Or, you may require functions that are not available on older versions in order to keep up with the latest sterilization techniques and requirements.

To determine which type and model of sterilizer will best serve your needs, take just a couple of minutes to read this report free of charge.  After you have selected your new autoclave, take a moment to locate an organization in your area that will find a way to repurpose your outdated equipment.

Infection control experts at a recent meeting of the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America released some surprising news.  This revelation concerns the inspiration of a certain thoughtful healthcare employee.  Jasper Palmer, who works at the Albert Einstein Healthcare network in Philadelphia, instinctively started a simple disposal technique that has since caught on with other healthcare staff. This innovation now reduces MRSA infections by between 26 and 62 percent in hospitals where it has been implemented.

Attention to detail is important in any sterilization and infection control program. Most of us know that some medical personnel have a tendency to not wash their hands nearly as often or as thoroughly as they should.  Given that, it is not so surprising that disposable gowns can sometimes be found overflowing to the outside of their intended receptacles.  Paper gowns worn when handling ill patients can present a significant cross-contamination potential when not disposed of properly.  

Paper gowns and gloves were designed and intended to prevent the spread of infectious disease because they are single-use and disposable.  Their use has become mandatory when treating MRSA patients.  Yet the spread of these superbugs continued anyway.  Untidy disposal of the gowns spreads germs to surrounding surfaces.  From there the germs can spread elsewhere as other unknowing personnel touch those surfaces with their hands or cloths.  Eventually and unintentionally, pathogens can spread throughout the facility.

Jasper thought his method of disposal was just the right thing to do in any healthcare environment.  It was neat and organized.  He knew it would stop the spread of the germs.  He didn’t think twice about it until others began noticing his technique.  He would take the outside of his paper hospital gown and scrunch it up into a small ball so that it could fit inside his glove.   With the stuffed glove inside out, it would prevent the gown from spreading germs to the surrounding surfaces.  This is quick. Little effort is needed to do this.  Basically, the glove becomes a receptacle that can be properly disposed of itself in a way that is convenient. 

If trash cans are full, the glove can serve as a temporary means to contain the gown.  That means all healthcare professionals are more likely to actually wear a gown when it is required.  Lack of a way to properly dispose of one is no longer an excuse.  The irony of all of this is that Jasper is a patient transporter and not a nurse or doctor.  But his idea is now being taught to those experts.

Keeping It Clean

Hands and clothes are medical instruments too.  Disinfecting them is a focus of any good healthcare management.  The CDC notes that approximately 94,000 patients in the U.S. contract serious MRSA infections per year.   About 19,000 of them die. 

Cross-contamination must be stopped.  Hands and clothing can potentially transfer germs to the other sterile medical instruments that are commonly used.  Many sterilizers use vacuum pumps to remove air from a load prior to pumping in the steam.  These can be used to sterilize bandages and linens when necessary. Other autoclaves are designed to process hazardous medical waste prior to transport and final disposal.  Both of these types of equipment play an important role in keeping dangerous pathogens in check.  This free report will help you find the proper one for your specific need.

The Passi City district hospital will have to try another source for its purchase of a steam sterilizer. The city of Iloilo granted the 1.1 million peso contract to someone they thought was a reputable supplier. They wound up with a piece of junk. Hopefully the procurement office will negotiate net 30 terms in the future to allow time to test equipment before handing over a check for such a sizable sum. An inspection was carried out by hospital personnel in concert with staff from the Commission on Audit (COA). The team found that the unit had no nameplate listing manufacturer information, brand name or model number. Other information was also missing. It is anyone’s guess where the machine came from. However, odds are good that its next destination will be the landfill. When hospital staff tried to fire up the equipment to perform basic testing, the defective autoclave promptly died. And that was just the tip of the iceberg

The entire transaction was disallowed in November, 2008 when details about both the product and the procurement process came under scrutiny. Investigation has shown that the dirty dealing began during bidding. There were several players involved. Ideally, the purchase of expensive equipment should be done through a closed or sealed bid process. This prevents the vendors from fixing prices among themselves and gives the buyer the best shot at closing a fair deal. In this case, the vendors involved were Pacific Trade House and CDC Pharmacy. They presented themselves as independent entities engaged in a competitive process.

However, examination of the disbursement voucher told a different story. The check made out to Pacific Trade House was actually routed directly to the rep for CDC Pharmacy. In addition to this, the proof of delivery from Pacific Trade House was signed by someone who put in a taxpayer’s id # for Dione Trading - the company that actually delivered the autoclave. Further digging revealed that Dione Trading and CDC Pharmacy are owned by the same person.

The Finger Pointing Begins

Such obvious collusion is embarrassing to all those involved. The assumption on the part of the vendors was that there would be no investigation to reveal this fraud. This says a great deal about their opinion of the officials involved in the purchase. The COA points to the people in charge of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), the provincial engineer, and several others as being liable for this fiasco. The current Governor is also taking some heat since he approved the transaction. Accusations of corruption and graft are being hurled right and left.

What isn’t clear is how the province of Iloilo is planning to provide a functioning autoclave to fill the need at the Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital. They are sure to be more wary on their next procurement attempt. It is possible to buy a refurbished sterilizer to cut costs. However, this is only a good idea when the unit has been returned to factory specifications by the original manufacturer. Stringent testing is absolutely necessary to confirm that such reclaimed equipment meets all requirements for safety and efficacy. To avoid uncertainty about the provenance and condition of a machine, purchasing a new unit is the simplest route. There are a number of other points to take into consideration as well. Click here for a free report providing this vital information.

On March 23rd, 2009, it was announced that a Veterans Affairs Hospital in Miami Florida used unsterile medical instruments on 3,000 patients.  The VA insists that the infection risk is minimal.  Yet they are getting in contact with each patient and recommending that they receive an HIV test as a precaution. The equipment in question was water pump tubing hooked up to instruments used during colonoscopies. 

The tubing itself supposedly never touched any of the patients.  The endoscopic procedures were done between May of 2004 and March of 2009.  For five years these tubes were simply rinsed instead of being sterilized.  Concerns about cross contamination led to the recent announcement. 

But this is not the only recent VA case concerning unsterile colonoscopies.  Just a month before this news, it was revealed that 6,000 patients at a Veterans clinic in Tennessee were actually exposed to bodily fluids through the devices!   Unfortunately, the story does not end there.  1,800 patients at a veteran’s ear, nose, and throat clinic in Augusta, Georgia were also exposed to infection due to the improper sterilization of endoscopes.  

In December 2001, it was made known that unsterile medical injections were common in the less-developed world.  It was suspected that 80,000 to 160,000 new HIV transmissions per year were the result of this practice.  That does not include the other multiple millions of other types of infections, such as hepatitis.  It is estimated that such huge numbers may be increasing deaths by millions per year, regardless of whether or not such practices continue to this day. 

A lot of damage has already been done.  Having this sort of thing happen in the United States is disturbing enough.  The fact that it is a government agency that is supposed to help and serve military personnel instead of harming them is deplorable. 

More Breaking News

Today on March 24th, 2009, Senator Bill Nelson from Florida called for a Congressional investigation into these recent incidents at various VA facilities.  Veterans Affairs hotlines have been ringing off the hook all day long.  They have received thousands of calls from men and woman in the military who are concerned about possible exposure.  Hundreds more made visits to clinics in both Miami and Fort Lauderdale specifically because of this issue. 

The problem with these incidents is not that human error occurred.  That happens.  However, it is hard to reconcile the fact that these substandard practices have gone unnoticed for years.  Meanwhile thousands upon thousands of people are adversely affected. 

There have been many advances in aseptic treatment since Louis Pasteur and Joseph Lister addressed the scientific community in the 19th century.  Sterilization is a constantly evolving field, even today.  Here in the 21st century the challenge of decontamination has more to do with convenience, record keeping, monitoring, efficiency, and cost control than with basic knowledge.  The issue has primarily been “how to build a better mouse trap” not “whether to use the mouse trap at all”.  Proper procedures, standards, and equipment must be used at all times when sterilizing medical devices.

Having access to good advice and information is an absolute necessity when selecting any sterilization equipment or autoclave.  Make sure you are up to speed by reading this free report before you make your next purchase.

The CDC finished updating its latest version of the Guidelines for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities in November.  The new publication represents the first comprehensive overhaul of this document since the 1980’s.  At a hefty 158 pages, this isn’t exactly light reading.  However, it is definitely written with an emphasis on clarity.  The terminology is simple enough for an entry level hospital technician to easily grasp.  This booklet will make a valuable addition to the library of any employee responsible for following proper disinfection protocols.  It is available for download at the CDC website in Adobe format.   Of special interest is the section on flash sterilization issues. 

This controversial decontamination technique has been the source of much discussion in the past and that certainly hasn’t changed.  Flash processing is the quick and “dirty” version of steam processing medical instruments.  This method is used when there is no time to run a full length autoclave cycle and there are no spare instruments available.  In the middle of a life or death surgery, doctors must make the call on how to clean an item that falls on the floor or otherwise becomes contaminated.  If there is no replacement, they may choose to simply have it run through a fast cycle and put it back to work.

The CDC publication states “correctly performed flash sterilization is an effective process for the sterilization of critical medical devices”(p60).  The problem is that proper procedures are sometimes ignored.  In the rush to get instruments back to the operating room, mistakes can be injurious or fatal. The risk of surgical site infection skyrockets if any steps in this complex procedure are skipped.  Burns have also been known to occur when items are not cooled to a safe temperature before use. 

Possible Dangers And Some Solutions

Because instruments are cleaned in open trays or pans, they can quickly become re-contaminated with microbes.   This can happen even on the short trip from the sterilizer back to the OR.  For this reason, some hospitals are now choosing protective packaging that allows steam penetration but still provides a shield against airborne bacteria.   Other facilities locate the sterilization room as close to operating theaters as possible to reduce transit time. 

Since the run time for a flash cycle is only 3 minutes or so, the risk of some organisms being left alive is higher than with regular processing.  To find out if a particular load was indeed sterile, a bio indicator test must be run.  These usually take 24-48 hours to deliver results.  Obviously, by this time the surgery is over and any damage has already been done.  Even with newer tests that can be read within an hour, the problem still persists.  Records must be kept for each load so that personnel can follow up.  Patients who were accidentally exposed to inadequately sterilized instruments require close monitoring and additional antibiotics. 

This method should never be used simply for the sake of convenience.  Maintaining sufficient inventory of all instruments is one way to avoid circumstances in which flash processing is necessary.  This type of sterilization should only be done by employees who fully understand the consequences of a mistake.  As always, proper training is the best protection against errors.  Having the right information makes all the difference. 

Whether your facility performs regular steam autoclaving or other forms of sterilization, you can benefit from access to current information also.  We provide this report on autoclaves free of charge so you can make the right choice for your next equipment upgrade.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently released guidance for aggressive infection control to combat the new emerging nosocomial pathogen known as CRKP.  Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is probably best known for an outbreak in Israel a few of years ago within the healthcare system there.  It is one of many carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) that is within the scope of the announcement.

The true extent and prevalence of this resistant strain within the environment is currently unknown, but it is more common than once thought.  The mortality rate can only be guessed because of the relatively low number of known infection cases.  The death rate has been observed within a range of 12.5% to as high as 44%.  The number for a possible large outbreak in the future has been modeled and predicted for, but there is a rather large level of uncertainty.  Regardless, the potential danger is serious.  

These rates of morbidity and mortality for CRKP are particularly high.  They suggest immediate action is required to respond to the potential threat.  Previous patterns of secondary infection within the healthcare system, especially among the critically ill patients with prolonged hospitalization, or those expose to invasive devices (for example ventilators or central venous catheters), force us to error on the side of caution.

Effective sterilization and decontamination procedures are important to keep the infection rate of this antibiotic resistant bacterium as low as possible.  Klebsiella pneumoniae  are gram negative bacteria that can cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound or surgical site infections, and meningitis in patients being treated for other illnesses or conditions. 

The antibiotic resistant strain has minimal inhibitor concentrations (MICS) that are elevated.  Yet, the levels do indicate that there is still susceptibility to some antibiotics.  The concern is that carbapenem is often looked upon as a drug of last resort when battling resistant strains.  This suggests that new slight mutations could result in infections for which there is very little if anything healthcare professionals can do to treat.  There are already strains of CRE that actually produce the enzyme carbapenemase themselves, and therefore are listed amongst these other dangerous species.

CDC Focuses Upon Healthcare In U.S.

One of the main reasons for issuing the guidance is that CRKP is the most common CRE species encountered within the United States.  In other words, the relevant bug has truly gone international.  The spread must be slowed or stopped.  This depends upon the implementation of comprehensive infection control strategies that not only serve to identify its mode of movement within the population, but also isolate it and properly sterilize any equipment or areas affected.

Another reason for the alert is that sharing of certain instruments in a hospital setting has been proven to sometimes occur.  The FDA is working in concert with the CDC on this issue because hepatitis has recently been spread through sharing of insulin pens.  Since ventilators and catheters are a couple of many known points for possible transmission of CRKP, sterilization of any equipment potentially used on multiple patients must be handled with care.   This latest CDC advice focuses professionals to keep actual hygiene practices up that meet with already published standards.  Potential human error still remains the biggest problem that needs to be consistently overcome. 

Many of the affected pieces of equipment are normally sterilized using a chemical agent autoclave.  Ethylene oxide is most commonly used type of dangerous gas for such sterilization purposes.  Depending upon specific needs, safer alternatives might be possible.  A free report is available to help with making any final decision.

The Managing Infection Control publication includes an interesting twist for 2009.  This year’s Sterilization Technology Showcase isn’t just about managing exposure to pathogens.  It also touches on protecting employees from chemicals as well.  In many cases, the danger of exposure comes from the very equipment and processes used to control microbial threats.  The Steri-Trac Monitoring System from ChemDAQ is designed to address this problem.  The 2009 Showcase provides information about how sterilization equipment can be monitored for safety.

Gas sterilizers are most often used to disinfect temperature sensitive instruments such as endoscopes.  There are a number of different chemicals that can be used in this process and some are more toxic than others.  OSHA and the CDC have studied the effects of exposure to each of these gases and set parameters on what is considered a safe exposure level.  Not surprisingly, these limits are very low.  Acute exposure can have immediate and devastating consequences; but even small quantities of these chemicals can cause problems if employees are in contact with them over extended periods of time.

Meet The Gases

Ethylene Oxide gets most of the bad press since it has been shown to cause cancer in humans.  Although this gas does have a distinctive odor, a large amount has to leak before this smell is detectible to the average person.  By that time the level of exposure may be over 500 times the maximum safe limit determined by OSHA.

Hydrogen Peroxide vapors are virtually odorless making it impossible for anyone to notice a leak by smell alone.  Unlike the 3% hydrogen peroxide sold over the counter at the grocery store, medical sterilizers may use concentrations as high as 90%.  This is an extremely caustic substance and unsafe for direct contact or inhalation.  Corneal ulcers, skin blistering, and permanent lung damage can be some of the consequences of exposure to concentrated HP.

The final byproduct at the end of an O3 sterilizer cycle is simple oxygen.  This is why it is often advertised as an environmentally friendly sterilization method.  However, exposure to the concentrated ozone that is created for injection into the chamber can be very harmful to the lungs.  This gas does have a sharp, irritating smell but it becomes less noticeable over time as people get used to it.  That means a leak could occur and keep getting worse with no one the wiser.

No piece of machinery is completely failure proof.  Accidental exposure can occur due to a leaky valve or faulty seal.  Failure to properly service and maintain equipment is an oversight that increases the risk of gas and vapor leakage.  Operator error and poor or improper ventilation are other common causes of exposure. 

How ChemDAQ’s System Can Help

The Steri-Trac is designed to immediately alert personnel to the presence of unsafe levels of toxic gases before they get out of control.  Since the system monitors EtO, O3, and Hydrogen Peroxide, it only needs to be installed once.  If a facility chooses to switch gas sterilizer types during an upgrade, the Steri-Trac will still be compatible.

Visual and audible alarms are programmed to go off in the event of a gas leak.  The displays can be read remotely so no one has to actually enter a dangerous area to review the alert message.  Up to 8 separate monitors can be tracked from a central location.  Detailed, long term record keeping is done automatically to comply with OSHA regulations.  Best of all, freshly calibrated sensors can be delivered on a set schedule from ChemDAQ so that the entire system is always operating at peak performance.

If you have questions about what type of sterilizer is right for your facility, click here for our free report.

LTE Scientific LTD recently unveiled a new line of 7 cylindrical laboratory autoclave models that come with an air ballast system as a standard feature.  These new Touchclave-R autoclaves are easy to use because of the Touchscreen panel.  At the same time, their state of the art menus with multiple levels of security prevent any unauthorized tampering with cycle settings.

These general purpose autoclaves contain an exceptional range of features that make the machines work safely and more efficiently.  Standard installed equipment includes the following:

- A pneumatic door lock/seal with no levers or bolts means a simple push and start the cycle procedure.   The door locks and seals automatically. It retracts and releases when the cycle is finished.

- An 8 program touchscreen control system makes it easy to use.  It also allows simple choices among available options.  On screen prompts are user friendly and provide flexibility.

- The air ballast system allows sealed and unsealed fluids to be cooled quickly and efficiently.  This greatly improves cycle times and helps prevent breakage when processing media.

- A load sensing and processing timer will make operation safe and efficient.

- The fan assisted cooling system reduces moisture in the load, while creating faster cycle times.  This is dynamic and in chamber, providing cooling directly to the load. 

- Temperatures between a range of 105 degrees Celsius and 136 degrees Celsius are reached during cycle operation.

- 40, 60, 120, or 160 liter capacity models are available.  This means a variety of specific needs can be met for each customer.

All but the 40 liter size machines are available as either a top or front loading model.  Steam is produced from the heaters submerged in the chamber.  Sensors prevent a cycle from starting or continuing without sufficient water in the reservoir.  This can be filled either manually or automatically depending upon situation and preference.

The smaller model is designed for bench top performance.  The other floor standing models can be moved around easily with casters.   All machines can be modified to run with the customer’s own external steam generator or supply.

Additional Information on LTE Products

Optional packages can include a vacuum system to assist the cooling process and a data archive that can store up to 5000 cycles on a single flash card.  Other available features are an effluent retention and filtration system for allowing category 3 loads and extra heating power to boost cycle times for sterilization.

LTE Scientific’s new series of autoclave can be modified to meet most applications.  These cylindrical chambered autoclaves meet tough industry standards.  They enhance versatility, performance, and productivity.  Most important they are reliable.  Flexibility, adaptability, and ease of use make this new model line an attractive option to consider.  

The company continues to make improvement upon their products.  Their customer service is back up by skilled technical engineers based out of their headquarters.  LTE was founded in 1947.  It is a leading European manufacturer and supplier of steam sterilizers and autoclaves, and other thermal processing products for all types of laboratories.  They have a worldwide network to support their customers in hospitals, education, biotech, research, and other technical industries. 

Before you go ahead and make a purchase, take a peek at this free report.

In September of 2008, CHRIST Water Technology presented innovative solutions for water purification at a conference in Vienna. These processes are designed to remove both organic and inorganic pollutants from industrial and municipal water supplies. Such technologies are very important to many companies including pharmaceutical manufacturers. Quality assurance requires any water used be free of bacteria and other micro-organisms.

CHRIST is able to deliver purified and highly purified water (PW and HPW) to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical industry. This can prove useful for various stages in the manufacturing process. Any benchtop sterilizers on-site can benefit from the use of such water also. Autoclave reservoirs that are not properly cleaned can actually provide a breeding ground for Gram-negative bacteria. Endotoxin residue levels soar if these containers are not cleaned on a daily basis. Disinfecting the equipment, draining and drying the reservoir at the end of each work day, and refilling it regularly are all good maintenance practices. Any cleaning products used should be specifically designed for the purpose and completely rinsed off. Failing to do so can cause foaming and other problems during the next cycle.

Sterilizers should always be operated using purified, sterile water. This serves two purposes. First, the water must be as free as possible of mineral contaminants to prevent build up of deposits on the interior of the machine. Tap water can cause corrosion and other damage. Second, the water should contain no microbial life. This reduces the risk of unnecessary contamination. It doesn’t make sense to spend time and effort cleaning items with steam generated from dirty water.

More About CHRIST Water Technology Systems

Deionisation and purification are important, but the final disinfection of water for use in sensitive environments requires an extra step. CWT offers the Steritron process to introduce ozone into the water supply as an effective biocide. The gas is generated by electrolysis and breaks down the cell walls of microbes via oxidation.  The entire process is carried out in a by-pass area that can be looped into the main water delivery system. Ozone is distributed throughout the piping and storage tanks, effectively disinfecting the entire supply (and preventing recontamination).

Steritron is advertised as an optimal method for reducing the presence of endotoxins and other waste byproducts formed by the breakdown of biological contaminants. These sterilization plants are available in a variety of sizes. The O3 in the system can reach concentrations of up to 18wt % of ozone to oxygen according to the manufacturer. With a sufficient treatment time, the microbial contamination may be brought down to levels of 10/100 ml. This is extremely low and an excellent indication that the equipment is accomplishing its goal.

Having sterile water “on tap” is an advantage in any R&D or manufacturing setting. However, there is some debate over just how pure the water needs to be for use in autoclaves. The Medical Devices Agency in the UK thinks it should be purified through 2 stage reverse osmosis. Others believe less stringent standards still render a reasonably sterile supply. Perhaps it is best to err on the side of caution.

If you like to get all the facts before you make a decision, you will appreciate our free report about autoclaves. It can help you make crucial purchasing choices that impact your company’s productivity and your bottom line.

Steris Corporation and GE Healthcare announced a recent collaborative agreement to work together in support of interventional suites by integrating their leading edge technologies.  The announcement was made at the Society of Interventional Radiology annual meeting in San Diego on March 9th, 2009.

Both these companies are global leaders in their respective niches.  GE Healthcare excels at medical imaging and informational technologies.  Steris Corporation is a surgical technology company that focuses on problem solving, particularly in the infection and contamination control arena.  The expertise that each brings to the table is different, but the coordination between the two is vital to come up with working solutions in this rapidly growing patient care field.  The advanced solutions achieved by the partnered effort of these organizations will significantly improve the quality of interventional care across the country and the world.

For this collaboration, both companies agreed to equip interventional suites.  GE healthcare will provide x-ray equipment and other related technologies.  Steris will provide custom designed HD 360 degree suites that include LED surgical grade lighting, video-switching systems, visualization systems, and equipment management solutions.

Founded in 1987, Steris is a leading provider of infection prevention and surgical products.  Their specialty is supplying the critical care, pharmaceutical, and research markets.  Their products include many types of washers, instrument cleaning solutions, and sterilizers.  They also offer a variety of sterility assurance products.  These include:

- Biological indicators
-  Chemical indicators
- Personnel monitoring systems
- Surgical scrub sinks
- Barrier and packaging products
- Containers
- Disinfectants and aerosols
- Skin care and hygiene products
- Record keeping and labeling supplies

Modes of decontamination include hydrogen peroxide, steam, ethylene oxide, and various liquid chemicals.  The list is enormous.  5,000 Steris employees around the world are dedicated to providing healthcare professional with the products and combination of solution they need to keep patients healthy and safe.

GE healthcare provides equipment necessary for just about every possible scan and imaging device you can think of and more, plus all of the actual machines too.  Whether it pertains to an MRI, contrast media, CT workstations, anesthesia, or integrated intravascular ultrasound systems, GE has it available. 46,000 employees around the world are committed to providing the best possible service.  In 2007, revenues reached 16.9 billion dollars.

Why Contamination Control Matters

Sterilization and contamination control management are necessary regardless of the mode or venue of patient treatment.  Non-invasive methods can still present opportunities for pathogens (such as Staph) to spread.  Furthermore, intravenous procedures during therapy and/or imaging can generate hazardous medical waste.  Anything that patients and medical personnel touch needs to be cleaned and sanitized regularly.
 
New products and methods to make this process easier and more effective are helpful.  Secondary infections are a growing problem in the healthcare industry, and everyone involved needs to take a proactive approach to disease prevention by practicing good hygiene.  Chemicals and radiologic instruments used in therapy must be managed with care.  Safe guards must be maintained so that facilities and equipment intended for healing do not become sources of nosocomial infection.  With the help of companies like GE and Steris, the tools are available to keep patients and healthcare workers safe. 

For advanced sterilization and autoclaving of everything from linens to instruments, check our free report for helpful information regarding equipment specifications.