Episode 3:

Today on Level Up Infection Prevention, Michelle Strange and India Chance are addressing instrument reprocessing.

Episode Highlights:

• Sterilization vs. Disinfection
• Categories, Critical, Semi- Critical, Non- Critical
• Sharps Containers and Cassettes
• Utility Gloves and PPE
• Waterlines
• Cold Sterile and Holding Solution
• Follow the recipe, and dry your instruments

Quotes:

"Disinfection doesn't get bacterial spores, which sterilization does"

"People, people, people... we have got to stop disinfecting and sterilizing non-reusable items"

"The instruments were contaminated… they fell off the tray, and stuck into someone's foot!"

"I want to go burn my face off afterwards… it is so gross"

"The biggest thing is following the recipe"

"If you don't follow the directions, you are not going to get the results of the claims"

"Those drops of water… covers over parts of the contaminated instrument, and serve a barrier, allowing parts of the instrument to not be sterilized"

"You should not get your infection control protocols from a Facebook post comment…"

"You have to challenge your equipment, don't just trust that it is working"

Resources and Links:

OSHA: https://www.osha.gov

OSAP: https://www.osap.org

Michelle Email: [email protected]

India Email: [email protected]

A Tale of Two Hygienists: https://ataleoftwohygienists.com

Learn to Prevent: https://www.learn2prevent.com