Page 1 of 3 June 2, 2016 Recommendations for Clean ing and Disinfection in Medical Ultrasound to Prevent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Transmission For: BC Health Authority Reprocessing & Infection and Prevention Control Programs Introduction Infection prevention and control is critical to delivering safe, high‐quality care to patients undergoing sonographic procedures. Ultrasound is generally considered a relatively safe procedure when compared with radiation‐based imaging techniques, however, poor ultrasound probe reprocessing protocols and environmental cleaning and disinfection may result in a risk of patient cross ‐infection. Re cently published studies have raised concerns regarding the efficacy of commonly used disinfectants against Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The purpose of this document is to provide updated guidance regarding cleaning and disinfection in this setting. Probe Cleaning and Disinfection External probes that only come into contact with intact skin are considered noncritical devices and require cleaning and low‐level disinfection after every use as described below. All internal probes are classified as semi‐critical devices (e.g., vaginal, rectal and transesophageal probes, as well as intraoperative probes used for needle guidance during biopsies, aspirations, drainages, etc.). For maximum safety, these devices require cleaning, followed by high‐level disinfection between each patient use and a probe cover or condom as an aid to keep them from becoming grossly contaminated. If condoms are used as barriers, the condoms should be non‐lubricated and non‐medicated. Although internal ultrasound probes are routinely protected by single‐use disposable probe covers, leakage rates of 0.9% to 2% for condoms and 8% to 81% for commercial probe covers have been observed in recent studies 1. Studies have also revealed that these probes remain contaminated with a variety of bacterial and viral pathogens despite the use of disposable covers, followed by low‐level disinfection 2,3 . The following specific recommendations are made for the cleaning and disinfection of ultrasound probes: 1. External ultrasound probes that come into contact with intact skin require cleaning and low‐level disinfection between uses according to the manufacturer’s <mark...
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