Medical devices (MD) reprocessing is a set of activities essential for healthcare systems response, answering to the needs of millions of procedures that are daily worldwide performed and contributing to the prevention of surgical site infections (SSI) and other procedure-related infections, mainly endoscopy.1
The Sterile Processing Department (SPD), also known as the Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD), requires high operational standards in order to achieve quality, safety, responsiveness, efficiency and sustainability. Besides according to JCI’s “top 5 most challenging requirements for 2022,” a key focus was on implementing infection prevention protocols for disinfecting and sterilizing medical equipment, devices, and supplies to minimize the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).2,3
Every day, tones of healthcare waste are produced worldwide, contributing to approximately 4-5% of total gas emissions.4,5
A holistic approach that integrates sustainability principles into the entire lifecycle of medical devices is urgent to be implemented.6,7
The trend for single-use devices, due to concerns related to healthcare associated infections, is a dangerous path that increases healthcare waste production, causes environmental damage to the planet and requires new approaches.8,9
In this new ASP webinar series, Medical device reprocessing: Back to the Future, the focus will be on new trends in reprocessing that could solve some of the existing challenges, consolidating the future of procedures and processes, aiming higher standards of quality, safety and economic and environmental sustainability. Off-site facility reprocessing is increasingly seen as an option to overcome small scale operations using outsourcing to achieve high quality reprocessing capabilities. By outsourcing they can also avoid 80% of organization errors which are related with the adverse events.10,11
However, this process must address several challenges to be successful, namely investment in MD to guarantee the turnaround needed, monitoring, traceability, process quality, transportation, etc… to have the surgical sets available when needed.12
The use of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) sterilization is a major advance in reprocessing reusable medical devices.
New ISO 22441standard have been recently published to improve its implementation and validate H2O2 sterilization processes on medical devices, in a proper way.13,14
The reprocessing of uro-genital and airway devices, such as endoscopes (cystoscopes, uretroscopes, broncoscopes and laryngosopes), has become increasingly demanding in terms of quality. Endoscopy is increasingly used as an alternative form of diagnosis and increasingly invasive treatment, which points to the need to reclassify endoscopes in the Spaulding classification.15,16
Several issues related to incomplete MD reprocessing have been identified that require process improvement in this area.17-20
Reprocessing technologies must also take into account economy and sustainability principles in order to support better decision-making. For example, efficient sterilization methods with reduced water and energy consumption mean cost savings and less damage to equipment and the environment, contributing to sustainable healthcare systems and a greener environment.4,5,21-23
By Dr. Carlos Palos
SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR
