The Principles of Medical Device Decontamination

TVC 10 – 100cfu/100ml AND no indicator microorganisms

TVC >100cfu/ml OR indicator microorganisms >0cfu/100ml

TVC <1cfu/100ml AND no indicator microorganisms

TVC 1-9cfu/100ml AND no indicator microorganisms

Satisfactory: very low

Acceptable: low risk

Unsatisfactory:

Unacceptable: high

• No corrective action required • Continue rinse water monitoring

• No corrective action required • Continue rinse

• Repeat EWD self disinfection and retest water, inform IPCT/ICD and estates • Continue rinse water monitoring

• Stop

reprocessing, sanitise EWD

and retest water, inform IPCT/ICD and estates

water monitoring

• A sample at

‘satisfactory’ or ‘acceptable’ level is required before EWD can go back in to service

Table 7.2 showing the action to be taken following rinse water test results

Track and Traceability

Data is critical to controlling standards of care and ensuring safety. In addition to tracking progress through the decontamination cycle, it is also necessary to identify the patients that come in contact with these semi-invasive instruments along with the accessories used during their procedure. Traceability systems must record each stage of decontamination cycle (Table 7.1) to ensure that only endoscopes that have been reprocessed correctly and within the designated timescales can be safely used on a patient. Robust systems mean that any breach in the decontamination process can be traced back to the individual endoscope(s) involved and the patients on whom it was used. There are both paper and electronic tracking and traceability systems available. Whatever system is used it should be a validated tool and audited at regular intervals.

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