Remus O Anders, Rachel Tyli, Eve Capistran, Yordanka G Guardiola, Garry Bassi, Tania D'Arpino, James A Scott, Tony Mazzulli
{"title":"Worker risk from ultrasonicator aerosolization in medical device reprocessing, a particulate and bio-burden approach.","authors":"Remus O Anders, Rachel Tyli, Eve Capistran, Yordanka G Guardiola, Garry Bassi, Tania D'Arpino, James A Scott, Tony Mazzulli","doi":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.01.012","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Reprocessing reusable medical devices and surgical instruments is vital for ensuring safe healthcare in hospitals. Medical Device Reprocessing Departments (MDRDs) handle the cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing of these instruments. While previous research has examined bioburden on surfaces and associated patient health risks, there is limited focus on occupational hazards for MDRD workers.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study investigates the potential bioaerosol exposure and particle concentrations generated by ultrasonic sterilizing water baths within the MDRD at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Bioaerosol sampling was conducted using Andersen-style samplers for bacterial and fungal cultures. Particle sampling was measured using optical particle samplers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results showed that the majority of bioaerosols were composed of low-risk skin microflora and waterborne bacteria, predominantly Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcal species. However, potentially harmful bacteria such as Citrobacter species and Acinetobacter species were detected. Fungal genera identified included Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although the overall aerosol generation from ultrasonic cleaning appeared minimal, the study highlights the importance of appropriate PPE and suggests further research on ventilation and additional aerosol sources in MDRDs is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":54806,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospital Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Hospital Infection","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2025.01.012","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Reprocessing reusable medical devices and surgical instruments is vital for ensuring safe healthcare in hospitals. Medical Device Reprocessing Departments (MDRDs) handle the cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing of these instruments. While previous research has examined bioburden on surfaces and associated patient health risks, there is limited focus on occupational hazards for MDRD workers.
Aim: This study investigates the potential bioaerosol exposure and particle concentrations generated by ultrasonic sterilizing water baths within the MDRD at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
Methods: Bioaerosol sampling was conducted using Andersen-style samplers for bacterial and fungal cultures. Particle sampling was measured using optical particle samplers.
Results: Results showed that the majority of bioaerosols were composed of low-risk skin microflora and waterborne bacteria, predominantly Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcal species. However, potentially harmful bacteria such as Citrobacter species and Acinetobacter species were detected. Fungal genera identified included Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium.
Conclusions: Although the overall aerosol generation from ultrasonic cleaning appeared minimal, the study highlights the importance of appropriate PPE and suggests further research on ventilation and additional aerosol sources in MDRDs is needed.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Hospital Infection is the editorially independent scientific publication of the Healthcare Infection Society. The aim of the Journal is to publish high quality research and information relating to infection prevention and control that is relevant to an international audience.
The Journal welcomes submissions that relate to all aspects of infection prevention and control in healthcare settings. This includes submissions that:
provide new insight into the epidemiology, surveillance, or prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings;
provide new insight into cleaning, disinfection and decontamination;
provide new insight into the design of healthcare premises;
describe novel aspects of outbreaks of infection;
throw light on techniques for effective antimicrobial stewardship;
describe novel techniques (laboratory-based or point of care) for the detection of infection or antimicrobial resistance in the healthcare setting, particularly if these can be used to facilitate infection prevention and control;
improve understanding of the motivations of safe healthcare behaviour, or describe techniques for achieving behavioural and cultural change;
improve understanding of the use of IT systems in infection surveillance and prevention and control.
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
分享
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
扫码关注我们
