Reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections in Probe Reprocessing

Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) remain a major obstacle to quality care. The good news is that many HAIs can be prevented,¹ with proper transducer reprocessing able to reduce the risk of pathogen transmission during procedures. ⁸

For healthcare providers utilizing ultrasound and/or other semi-critical medical devices in sonography, reprocessing represents more than following an ordinary routine – rather, it is a critical safety measure ² that serves to protect the integrity of patient care Infection prevention depends on a comprehensive, start-to-finish workflow designed to reduce variability, minimize human error, and protect patients at every stage of probe reprocessing.

Why is Standardized Aseptic Technique Important?

A common factor to infection risk is variability of practice. ³ When clinicians perform somewhat differently from one another, even slight differences can potentially lead to contamination.

Using a framework such as Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANNT) can assist in reducing variability. ANNT provides a method to protect both key parts (such as procedural equipment) and key sites (such as insertion points). This results in increased consistency across procedures. ^{4 5 6}

Why is Probe Transport Important in Infection Prevention?

Probe transport – and its role in overall probe reprocessing - is often underestimated. Guidelines from The Joint Commission and SDMS offer recommendations for transporting semi-critical medical devices (like ultrasound probes), including:

• The Joint Commission: Recommends removing devices from the room in a container that is covered. ⁷
• SDMS: The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) recommends that ultrasound probes be either safely reprocessed in the exam room using a clearly established dirty-to-clean workflow or transported in designated, approved containers to a separate reprocessing area. Critically, SDMS emphasizes that probes should be stored and transported in clearly labeled clean or dirty containers to help prevent contamination of the transducer, surrounding equipment, and the healthcare environment. ⁸

How Should Ultrasound Probes Be Stored After High-Level Disinfection?

Storing ultrasound probes properly after high-level disinfection is essential to maintaining overall integrity and preventing recontamination. Guidelines from The Joint Commission and SDMS detail “best practices” for post-HLD storage:

• The Joint Commission: Recommends that semi-critical devices, including TEE and ultrasound probes, be stored by hanging them vertically with the distal tip suspended freely in a clean, well-ventilated area. Probes should also be stored in a way that protects them from damage and contamination. ⁹
• SDMS: Emphasizes that proper storage plays a key role in reducing the risk of recontamination. Recommendations include clearly labeling storage containers with the disinfection level, storage date, and maximum storage duration, as well as maintaining strict separation between clean and dirty transducers. Dirty probes should never be stored in the same space as disinfected ones. ⁸

Why Are Staff Training Competency Checks Important?

Even the best infection prevention protocols are only effective when they are followed consistently. For staff, ongoing education with regards to reprocessing best practices is extremely helpful, since it allows them to learn both the “how” and also the “why” with regards to reprocessing practices. Staff competency evaluations and trainings can support compliance over time.

Summary

Preventing healthcare-associated infections is less about being “perfect” in one instance and more about maintaining consistency, across every instance. By following standardized reprocessing practices, using the right tools/technologies, and helping staff through consistent education and training, healthcare teams can establish reliable, repeatable systems of probe reprocessing, the kinds that protect both patients and the clinicians that care for them.

References:

#1: About HAIs. (CDC.gov)

#2: How Are Reusuable Medical Devices Reprocessed? (FDA.gov)

#3: Rowley S, Clare S. Improving standards of aseptic practice through an ANTT trust-wide implementation process: a matter of prioritisation and care. Journal of Infection Prevention. 2009;10:S18-S23. doi:10.1177/1757177409342140

#4: Clare S, Rowley S. Implementing the Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT®) clinical practice framework for aseptic technique: a pragmatic evaluation using a mixed methods approach in two London hospitals. Journal of Infection Prevention. 2018;19(1):6-15. doi:10.1177/1757177417720996

#5: What Is ANTT? (ANTT.org)

#6: Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT) Guideline (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde)

#7: Infection Prevention and Control – Standard FAQ Details (Joint Commission)

#8: Sonographer Best Practices for Infection Prevention and Control: Reprocessing the Ultrasound Transducer (SDMS)

#9: Disinfection and Sterilization: Dispelling the Myths (The Joint Commission)

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