The risk of transmitting infectious diseases from patients to medical staff, as well as from medical staff to other patients, is a significant concern in hospital and clinical settings. Infection transfer can lead to germs and illnesses quickly spreading throughout a facility, leading to an increase in the rate of Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) among patients and staff. Protective measures should be implemented and followed by all medical staff to ensure the safety and well-being of both the patients and their providers. One of the best ways to significantly reduce the spread of germs and infections is with the use of single-use medical devices.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration define single-use or disposable medical devices as those strictly intended for use on one patient during only one procedure. In recent years, there has been an industry-wide focus, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, to implement methods and procedures directly focused on reducing the risk of HAIs. The use of disposable medical supplies is a reliable option for ensuring that all devices are decontaminated and safe for use on patients. Single-use medical devices can protect patients from developing life-threatening infections from cross-contamination or unsafe conditions during medical procedures and treatments.
A research study entitled Importance of disposable medical materials and instruments in the prevention of intrahospital infections, tested disposable and reusable medical instruments to establish the difference between their level of protection from microorganisms. The report found that nearly 30% of the reusable medical devices tested positive for isolated bacteria; while the entire control group of disposable products tested as sterile. The frequency of samples that tested negative for bacteria among the disposable products is highly significant because these results confirm that the level of protection is higher if disposable products are used. The study suggests that reusable medical devices and products should be replaced by disposable materials to decrease the incidence of infections.
When healthcare facilities and hospital systems switch from reusable to single-use medical devices, the benefits are invaluable. Visit Medical Indicators’ website to learn more about our disposable thermometers, and how they can ensure the safety and well-being of both your patients and your staff.
