GMS hygiene and infection control
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GMS Hyg Infect Control · Jan 2013
Microbial contamination of manually reprocessed, ready to use ECG lead wire in intensive care units.
A number of studies have shown that non-critical medical devices can be contaminated with pathogens, including those resistant to antibiotics and thus become a potential vector for transmission. Electrocardiography (ECG) lead wire are non-critical medical device which are always attached on patient skin during their stay in intensive care unit (ICU). In view of the patient's critical conditions and exposure to invasive procedures, identification and prevention of possible risks are important to prevent infection in ICUs. ⋯ Manually cleaned ECG lead wires may serve as a vector for transmission of nosocomial pathogens. The current reprocessing technique for ECG lead wires needs to be improved.