Shorter cycles, less rinses have been discussed for some time at AAMI working groups and amongst healthcare professionals. Most agree that adequate contact time and rinsing is good practice for manual and automated processes. Detergents lift but rinsing removes the soil. Now manufacturers of new washer/disinfectors have gone even further by promoting cycles preset in their new machines which eliminate rinse steps and rinse times

In a hospital setting, drug resistant strains of bacteria are a growing problem. Staphylococcus is an especially opportunistic pathogen. When immunity is lowered, it can cause all types of infections. Most antibiotics, even the latest and greatest, are not effective against “super bugs”. Some staph infections no longer respond, or become resistant, to common antibiotics.

As a subscriber to Case Medical’s weekly blog, you know the we’ve been preparing to host a live online event, “Sustainable Cleaning Chemistries for a Healthier World”. Now we’d like to introduce to you the panelists who have so generously volunteered to share their time and knowledge with us all. Each panelist brings experience and perspective from a variety of vantage points.

The world is a fast-moving place, and keeping up, staying on top of things, being aware of all the thats going on around you, can seem impossible. There are the daily demands of work, the backlog of items which need attention before moving on to the next stage, or the hecticness of providing fresh, clean, and sterile items when a schedule changes.

What you can count on to consistently provide best outcomes? All things being equal, washer/disinfectors are all very efficient. We all want clean dishes at home and decontaminated instruments in healthcare facilities.  In both scenarios, we want them done with the least amount of effort. That's why dishwashers are so prized in the kitchen and automated washers in decontam. But sometimes, they don't produce the best results.