GUIDELINES FOR INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL …

1 SOCIETY OF DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY GUIDELINES FOR INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN SONOGRAPHY:Reprocessing the Ultrasound TransducerENDORSING ORGANIZATIONS American College of Radiology Australasian Sonographers Association Philips Ultrasound, Inc. Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography Tenvision Ultrasound, LLCSUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS* Acertara Acoustic Lab Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs MITA Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance Sonography Canada * Some organizations have internal policies that do not permit endorsement of external documents.

2 Supporting organization denotes a more limited level of review and approval than endorsement and means the organization considers the clinical document to be of educational value, although it may not agree with every recommendation or statement in the May 20, 2020 Disclaimer: The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) and the SDMS Sonography Disinfection & INFECTION CONTROL Task Force members received no payment or other inducements for the development of the GUIDELINES for INFECTION PREVENTION and CONTROL in Sonography: Reprocessing the Ultrasound Transducer.

3 The task force members provided the SDMS with conflict of interest number of organizations and industry partners have provided logistical support to the SDMS, including but not limited to, gathering relevant standards, research, and articles. None have participated in or influenced the SDMS Sonography Disinfection & INFECTION CONTROL Task Force s consideration of such documents nor had involvement in the task force meetings or its development of these GUIDELINES . The SDMS does not endorse, support, or promote any specific commercial document is provided without any representations or warranties, express or implied.

4 The authors and all participating, supporting, and endorsing organizations expressly disclaim all liability to any party for the accuracy, completeness, or availability of this document, or for damages arising out of the use of this document and any information it : The SDMS is committed to providing informational resources like these GUIDELINES to its members. If you have comments or suggestions for these GUIDELINES or other informational white papers, please contact the SDMS at: SDMS Members are encouraged to utilize the SDMS Collaborate Community, , to discuss the issues addressed in these GUIDELINES and other SDMS white papers.

5 Copyright 2017-2020. Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Plano, Texas. All Rights Reserved. Permission for redistribution of the final document in its entirety is hereby ..1 DEVELOPMENT PROCESS ..2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..21. INTRODUCTION ..32. INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL RISKS AND CHALLENGES ..33. UNDERSTANDING HOW THE SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION AFFECTS TRANSDUCER REPROCESSING ..4 ASSIGNING THE EXPECTED SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION BASED ON SONOGRAPHIC PROCEDURE ..54. SONOGRAPHIC PROCEDURE ..5 BEFORE THE PROCEDURE ..5 Select the Correct Transducer.

6 6 Select the Correct Transducer Cover ..6 Select the Correct Ultrasound Gel ..6 DURING THE AFTER THE PROCEDURE ..75. TRANSDUCER REPROCESSING ..7 CLEANING ..8 DISINFECTION AND STERILIZATION ..8 Sterilization ..8 High-Level Disinfection (HLD) ..8 Low-Level Disinfection (LLD) ..9 RINSING AND DRYING ..9 DOCUMENTATION AND TRACEABILITY ..9 STORAGE ..106. INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TRANSDUCER REPROCESSING WORKFLOW ..10 TYPES OF PROCEDURES ..10 REPROCESSING TIME ..10 REPROCESSING LOCATION AND TRANSPORTATION.

7 10 COMPATIBILITY ..11 ESTABLISHING POLICIES AND STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOPS) ..11 PERSONNEL ..11 EVALUATION AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ..117. PROCESS OVERVIEW: IDENTIFICATION OF FACTORS IMPACTING SPAULDING CLASSIFICATION ..128. SONOGRAPHY PROCEDURES: TRANSDUCER DISINFECTION AND INFECTION CONTROL WORKSHEET ..129. REFERENCES ..1310. GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS ..1611. APPENDICES ..19 GUIDELINES FOR INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN SONOGRAPHY: REPROCESSING THE ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER1 SCOPEThe diagnostic medical sonography profession is comprised of specialties in abdominal, breast, cardiac, obstetrics, gynecology, musculoskeletal, pediatric, phlebology, vascular, and other emerging clinical areas.

8 These diverse areas of sonography all use ultrasound as the primary technology in their daily have a responsibility to ensure that the ultrasound transducer ( transducer ) and other equipment used are properly reprocessed. These GUIDELINES specifically address the use, handling, cleaning, disinfection or sterilization, transport, and storage of transducers (hereinafter referred to as reprocessing ) used in diagnostic medical sonography, but not those used for endoscopic , intracardiac, intravascular, or laparoscopic of the sensitivity of the transducer s materials and electronics to some reprocessing techniques, gaps may exist in the ability to perform the desired method of reprocessing for the transducer.

9 Therefore, while these GUIDELINES address current best practices, users of these GUIDELINES should recognize that best practices will evolve over time based on technological advances and new ensure the facility has the capability and capacity to adequately clean and reprocess the transducer, sonographers should obtain and review the manufacturer s Instructions for Use (IFU) or other guidance on use, handling, and reprocessing of the manufacturer s equipment before purchasing. Manufacturers and suppliers should ensure guidance on use, handling, and reprocessing specific to each machine, transducer, or other equipment is easily accessible on their website.

10 Manufacturers and companies that refurbish transducers should take the steps necessary to prevent contamination during or after the manufacturing or refurbishment process. However, regardless of the source, a newly acquired, non-sterile transducer should be processed as if it was used these GUIDELINES focus on the reprocessing of the transducer, the importance of INFECTION PREVENTION and CONTROL principles apply equally to the ultrasound machine and any ancillary equipment used during the procedure ( , cables, keyboards, beds, chairs, IV poles, oxygen systems, cords).