The decontamination of near patient equipment and medical devices is crucial to the prevention of healthcare associated infection (HAI). In recent years the Scottish Government have issued guidance and Health Department Letters to provide NHS Boards with information to ensure that this type of equipment is dealt with in line with current standards and guidance.
This page is divided into sections to ensure that staff with a direct responsibility for particular equipment, have the most up-to-date information and training available. Decontamination practice is continually evolving and those with a responsibility for decontamination need to ensure that they are aware of current developments.
If you require advice from the Decontamination Sub-Group please complete the attached Advice Request Form and return to ggc.infectioncontroldecontamination@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.
Useful Resources
Endoscopy
This document has been prepared to provide guidance on the technical requirements for the decontamination of flexible endoscopes and the options available. The document is intended to summarise key information on best practice in a manner which is readily accessible to the user/manager.
This guidance has been prepared by utilising published guidance from expert bodies, existing best practice guidance and standards, both published and in draft form. Many of the referenced standards are harmonised standards in respect of the Medical Device Directive.
Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease (CJD)
Caused by unconventional agents thought to be infectious proteins – known as prions. Disease in humans are:
- Sporadic – classical
- Familial – including Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI) and Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker (GSS)
- Acquired – iatrogenic, variant.
There is evidence that these disorders can be transmitted in specific situations associated with medical interventions, e.g. transfusion of contaminated blood and blood products, surgery with contaminated instruments. During routine clinical care, Standard Precautions are sufficient to prevent cross-infection in healthcare settings. Transmission Based Precautions must be applied when operations or specific invasive procedures are to be undertaken on high-risk tissues or patients identified as being at risk of vCJD.
Guidance from the ACDP TSE Risk Management Subgroup (formerly TSE Working Group) is the most-up-to date guidance on this topic, provided by the Department of Health.
See also the NHSGCC CJD SOP.
Advice Request Forms and Posters
This section contains completed Advice Request Forms (ARFs) that have been developed by the Decontamination Sub-Group following queries by NHSGGC staff in relation to the decontamination of specific pieces of equipment. ARFs for completion are available in the main Decontamination Section.
- Advice Request Form template
- Advice – Beatson – Ultrasound Probe
- Advice – Ortho – Plaster Room Instruments
- Advice – ITU – Flow Sensors
- Advice – Hand Baths used in Plastics
- Advice – Methameasure Tubing
- Advice – Optiflow THRIVE
- Advice – Ultrasound Probes
- Advice – Bard Breast Biopsy Guns
- Advice – Medical Devices – Neonatal Transport Incubator
- Advice – Dental – Decontamination of Powered Toothbrush
- Advice – Medical Devices Lancer Storage Cabinets
- Advice – Rezum Generator
Posters: Cleaning up Blood Spills and Cleaning the General Environment (Titan Chlor Plus)
Posters: Cleaning up Blood Spills and Cleaning the General Environment (Actichlor)
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Decontamination
This section contains SOPs that have been developed by the Decontamination Sub-Group following queries by NHSGGC staff in relation to the decontamination of specific pieces of equipment.
The Decontamination Sub-Group will develop SOPs in response to queries from NHSGGC staff, as and when required.
- NHS Scotland Guidance on the decontamination of Semi-Critical (semi-invasivel and non-invasive) Ultrasound Probes: Appendix 7 Decontamination Algorithm
- SOP – Decontamination of Dental Suction Systems
- SOP – Decontamination of Dental Impression, Dental Appliances and Dental Laboratory Work
- SOP – Decontamination of Dental Water Lines and BWDS