Relationship between sharps disposal containers and Clostridium difficile infections in acute care hospitals

Pogorzelska-Maziarz, Monika

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2015.06.007

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Previous studies revealed a lack of awareness of simple strategies such as appropriate waste segregation among anesthesiologists, 11,13 and suggested that anesthesiologists must collaborate with hospital infection control teams to ensure rigorous quality control of reprocessing and recycling processes to avoid complications that might jeopardize patient safety and undermine waste-management initiatives. [24][25][26] Furthermore, difficulties encountered with recycling and reprocessing underscore the importance of reduction strategies, such as collaborating with industry to reduce packaging included with each product and continuing materials science research that might yield biodegradable alternatives to commonly used products.…”

Section: Cas = Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society; Cme = Continuing mentioning

confidence: 99%

A national survey on attitudes and barriers on recycling and environmental sustainability efforts among Canadian anesthesiologists: an opportunity for knowledge translation

Petre

Bahrey

Levine

et al. 2018

Can J Anesth/J Can Anesth

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Section: Cas = Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society; Cme = Continuing mentioning

confidence: 99%

A national survey on attitudes and barriers on recycling and environmental sustainability efforts among Canadian anesthesiologists: an opportunity for knowledge translation

Petre

Bahrey

Levine

et al. 2018

Can J Anesth/J Can Anesth

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“…As director of infection prevention (IP) at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton for 13 years, I read with interest the October, 1, 2015, AJIC article by Pogorzelska-Maziarz. 1 Reusable sharps containers are prevalent in U.S. health care facilities. According to experts, of the 2.36 million sharps containers in U.S. acute care hospitals, approximately 50% of sharps containers are reusable.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A response to the relationship between different types of sharps containers and Clostridium difficile infection rates in acute care hospitals

Dikon

2016

American Journal of Infection Control

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Reply to Dikon in response to “A response to the relationship between different types of sharps containers and Clostridium difficile infection rates in acute care hospitals”

Pogorzelska-Maziarz

2016

American Journal of Infection Control

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We sought to test antimicrobial activity for 1 antimicrobial and sporicidal product (Endurocide, Aberdeenshire, Scotland), against a range of multiresistant microorganisms to establish activity for the claimed 24-month period. 7 These curtains are composed of nonwoven, extruded polypropylene with 0.5 mm thickness (100 gsm). They are impregnated with a blend of quaternary ammonium chlorides and polyorganosiloxane (a repellent negatively charged silicone) as well as being fire retardant. The biostatic and biocidal properties also prevent bacteria from penetrating or multiplying on the curtain.Testing followed the same methodology as previously, wherein zone of inhibition and contact inhibition was determined against a range of microorganisms (gram negative: extended-spectrum β-lactamase Escherichia coli, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; and gram positive: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, and coagulase-negative staphylococci), Candida albicans, and spores of Clostridium difficile. 6 Excellent results were achieved for both zone of inhibition and contact inhibition when tested at baseline, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months with no visible loss of activity (Fig 1).There were cost benefits for replacing standard fabric curtains with the newer formulation (Endurocide) sporicidal and antimicrobial curtains. The cost of laundering fabric curtains was AUS$4 per screen with a labor cost of AUS$10 to remove and rehang. Based on a routine schedule of 3 months this would mean 8 changes over 2 years at a total cost of AUS$112. If ad hoc changes were required due to patients discharged from contact precautions, then an additional cost of AUS$19 (due to extra setup requirements) would be incurred per episode. The disposable curtains cost AUS$45 to purchase and AUS$10 to hang for the 2-year duration, thus cutting the overall cost by more than 50%. In addition, the curtains provide sporicidal and antimicrobial protection to all patients, staff, and visitors accessing the patient area. Another advantage includes a safety advantage for staff members changing the curtains because they are only required to climb ladders once instead of 8 times during a 2-year period.The final consideration is the environment-related effect of transporting, washing, and reusing fabric curtains compared with the disposable polypropylene curtains that can be recycled via the plastic recycling stream.Our health service promotes the implementation of the new formulation Endurocide privacy curtains from both a cost-effectiveness and safety perspective.

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Relationship between sharps disposal containers and Clostridium difficile infections in acute care hospitals

Cited by 4 publications

References 18 publications

A national survey on attitudes and barriers on recycling and environmental sustainability efforts among Canadian anesthesiologists: an opportunity for knowledge translation

A national survey on attitudes and barriers on recycling and environmental sustainability efforts among Canadian anesthesiologists: an opportunity for knowledge translation

A response to the relationship between different types of sharps containers and Clostridium difficile infection rates in acute care hospitals

Reply to Dikon in response to “A response to the relationship between different types of sharps containers and Clostridium difficile infection rates in acute care hospitals”

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