COVID-19 infection in nursing staff: A cohort study.

Aim: This study aims to identify the working conditions of Brazilian nursing professionals and the risk factors for these professionals to become infected by coronavirus disease.

Background: Understanding the factors that affected nursing professionals during the pandemic can support better nursing management.

Design: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional survey study.

Factors associated with infection and hospitalization due to COVID-19 in Nursing professionals: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: to identify factors associated with infection and hospitalization due to COVID-19 in nursing professionals.

Method: a cross-sectional study carried out with 415 nursing professionals in a hospital specialized in cardiology. The sociodemographic variables, comorbidities, working conditions and issues related to illness due to COVID-19 were evaluated.

Infection Transmission Associated With Contaminated Ultrasound Probes: A Systematic Review.

A systematic review of seven studies on infections related to contaminated ultrasound probes showed that the infections were related to a failure in the decontamination process of ultrasound devices used on immature skin of neonates in an intensive care unit and transesophageal echocardiography probes. Six of the studies involved outbreaks in patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography either during or after surgery or as a part of treatment for a nonsurgical cardiac condition. The evidence shows links between the infection outbreaks and environmental contamination, lack of standardized ultrasound probe disinfection processes, inadequate storage, and lack of monitoring of probe integrity.

SARS-CoV-2 aerosol generation during respiratory equipment reprocessing.

Aerosolization may occur during reprocessing of medical devices. With the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, it is important to understand the necessity of using respirators in the cleaning area of the sterile processing department. To evaluate the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in the air of the sterile processing department during the reprocessing of contaminated medical devices.

Impact of negative pressure system on microbiological air quality in a Central Sterile Supply Department.

Objective: Guidelines recommend that the cleaning area in a Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) maintain a negative pressure of the environmental air, but how much this system can impact the contamination of the air by bioaerosols in the area is not known. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of negative pressure on CSSD by evaluating the microbiological air quality of this sector.

Methods: Microbiological air samples were collected in two CSSD in the same hospital: one with and one without a negative air pressure system.

The Effect of Brush Motion and Rinsing When Manually Cleaning Cannulated Medical Devices.

Cleaning cannulated medical devices can be challenging for perioperative and sterile processing department personnel. We performed a laboratory experimental study to evaluate differences in cleaning effectiveness using either a back-and-forth or helical spinning brushing motion and the effect of rinsing the bristles at each reintroduction of the brush in the lumen. We also tested the lumen cleanliness after high-pressure water cleansing without brushing.

False positive results of Bowie and Dick type test used for hospital steam sterilizer with slower come-up ramps: A case study.

Objective: To determine if the standardized B&D type test for hospital steam sterilizer is correctly indicating cycle failures in slower come-up ramps cycles.

Methods: Two commercially available B&D type test were challenged in a quality control sterilizer. A common failure was simulated in triplicate cycles, using a standardized cycle configuration, and then compared to triplicate cycles of a common cycle configuration.

Manual and Automated Cleaning Are Equally Effective for the Removal of Organic Contaminants From Laparoscopic Instruments.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of manual and automated methods for cleaning laparoscopic instruments. DESIGN Experimental laboratory study. METHODS We evaluated 4 methods of cleaning laparoscopic instruments: (1) manual-only cleaning and rinsing with potable tap water; (2) manual cleaning and rinsing with potable tap water, followed by ultrasonic cleaning without rinsing; (3) manual cleaning and rinsing with potable tap water followed by ultrasonic cleaning and rinsing with potable tap water; and (4) manual cleaning and rinsing with potable tap water, followed by ultrasonic cleaning and rinsing: first with potable tap water and then with sterile distilled water.

The practice of disinfection of high-speed handpieces with 70% w/v alcohol: An evaluation.

A high-speed handpiece is used in several dental procedures and the official recommendation for safe decontamination consists of rinsing with water, washing with detergent, mechanical friction, and sterilization; however, many professionals only apply 70% w/v alcohol without also cleaning the tool between patients. We performed an analysis of high-speed handpieces reprocessed only with 70% w/v alcohol and found that the methods used in clinical practice are not safe.

The impact of the use of different types of gloves and bare hands for preparation of clean surgical instruments.

Objectives: to determine if there are differences on the safety of the preparation of clean surgical instruments using different types of gloves and bare hands and evaluate the microbiological load of these preparations without gloves.

Method: laboratory procedure with a pragmatic approach, in which the samples were handled with different types of gloves and bare hands. In addition, cytotoxicity assays were carried out by means of the agar diffusion method.

Comparison of hand hygiene antimicrobial efficacy: Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil versus triclosan.

Objective: this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of hand hygiene performed with two different soap formulations: 0.3% Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil versus 0.5% triclosan, and to compare them with two reference hygiene procedures: the official methodology procedure (soft soap) versus the draft version of the procedure (soft soap + propan-2-ol).

Effectiveness of disinfection with alcohol 70% (w/v) of contaminated surfaces not previously cleaned.

Objective: To evaluate the disinfectant effectiveness of alcohol 70% (w/v) using friction, without previous cleaning, on work surfaces, as a concurrent disinfecting procedure in Health Services.

Method: An experimental, randomized and single-blinded laboratory study was undertaken. The samples were enamelled surfaces, intentionally contaminated with Serratia marcescens microorganisms ATCC 14756 106 CFU/mL with 10% of human saliva added, and were submitted to the procedure of disinfection WITHOUT previous cleaning.

[Temperature and humidity in the storage area of sterile materials: a literature review].

The recommendations for temperature (T°) and relative humidity (RU) for the storage of sterilized materials in Sterilization Central Supply (SCS) vary according to different sources, and are not based on theoretical frameworks or experiments. The practice shows difficulties in controlling these parameters, leading to doubts regarding the maintenance of the sterility of these materials. This article proposed, through a literature review, to identify and analyze the recommendations for T° and RU for the sterile storage area.