COVID-19
Prevention of Cross Infection
in Diagnostic Ultrasound Improves Patient Care

COVID-19: Germitec UV-C Disinfection Systems

During the COVID-19 pandamic, we have been asked by healthcare organisations about the ability to kill the COVID-19 Coronavirus using our various UV-C high level disinfection systems: Hypernova Chronos, Antigermix S1 and Antigermix E1.

At this point in time we have not conducted tests against this specific strain of Coronavirus and therefore cannot specifically state that it will be effective. However, what we do know is that our UV-C medical devices have proven effective against bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, and viruses (such as HPV, Poliomavirus, Enterovirus Polio, Adenovirus, Orthopoxvirus, Parvovirus, and Herpes virus) and continue to be an extremely effective tool for high level disinfection of ultrasound probes (including TE), and ENT endoscopes.

We have seen that historical studies, for example Darnell et al,1 have looked at the effectiveness of UV-C against SARS-COV, a different strain of Coronavirus and have concluded positively, that UV-C light is effective in killing it.

Germitec Chronos

The current feedback from Laboratories has been the following:

“ We have looked at the various characteristics of organisms such as the polio virus and adenovirus. When compared with Covid-19 there is no unique structure or characteristic (i.e. envelope, nucleocapsid, glycoprotein, etc) associated with Covid-19 that would suggest that it would have any greater resistance to disinfection than other coronaviruses or those organisms tested in the initial validation of the Germitec UV-C machines.”

Moreover, EPA considers that testing against other viruses is sufficient to claim efficacy against Covid-19 positive list:

“How does EPA know that these products work on SARS-CoV-2? While these products have not been tested against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, they are expected to be effective based on: Demonstrated efficacy against a harder-to-kill virus; Qualified for the emerging viral pathogens claim; or Demonstrated efficacy against another human coronavirus similar to SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus. Such pathogens are often unavailable commercially for laboratory testing.”2

Under the Spaulding classification the ultrasound probe is classified into non-critical probe, semi-critical probe and critical probe, determined by how the probe comes in contact with the patient’s procedure site and the level of cross-infection risk.3-8
Non-critical probe is low level disinfected as the probe contacts intact skin or non-infected skin and the potential cross-infection risk is low.
Semi-critical probe is high level disinfected as the probe may contact non-intact skin (wound or burn) or mucus membrane and the potential risk of cross-infection is considered medium to high.
Critical probe should be sterilised, if not possible can be high level disinfected and placed inside a sterile cover to prevent the contamination of a sterile field. The potential risk of cross-infection is considered high.

Clinical Support - Webinars, Guidelines and Research Papers

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has added another dimension to health care environments. As the world races to find vaccines, therapies and cures for the disease, disinfection, decontamination, and isolation are the few weapons we have to defend our health care environments. Through new clinical support webinars, guidelines and research papers, the solutions can be deployed effectively thus improve patient care.

Webinars 

Prevention of Pathogen Transmission during POCUS

Presenter: Dr Cartan Costello –MB BCH BAO, FCICM, FACRRM, FRACGP, BA Com, Grad Dip Crit Care Echo

Specific Recommendations from the USIG focus on Eight(8) recommendations:

  1. Ultrasound-guided procedures
  2. Ultrasound machine and probe
  3. Cost and Practicality
  4. Use of sterile probe covers
  5. Ultrasound gel
  6. Documentation and traceability
  7. Human Resources
  8. COVID-19

Click to Watch The Complete Webinar

Prevention of Pathogen Transmission during POCUS – Recommendations

How To Integrate Scientific Evidence into Best Clinical Practice 

Presenter: Dr. David J. Weber, MD, MPH, FIDSA, FSHEA, FRSM
Learning Objectives
– How to Integrate Scientific Evidence into Best Clinical Practice
– Assessing Scientific Evidence: Disinfectants and Disinfecting devices

WHO – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic

COVID-19 Position Statements and Guidelines

Research Papers

UV-C Research Papers

  1. Darnell, M., Subbarao, K., Feinstone, S. and Taylor, D. (2004). Inactivation of the coronavirus that induces severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS-CoV. Journal of Virological Methods, 121(1), pp.85-91.
  2. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/frequently-asked-questionsabout-list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2#Q1
  3. ACIPC-ASUM. Guidelines for Reprocessing Ultrasound Transducers. Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 2017;20(1):30-40.
  4. Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand. AS/NZS 4187:2014 Reprocessing of reusable medical devices in health service organizations (superseding AS/NZS 4187:2003). Standards Australia; 2014.
  5. Therapeutic Good Administration (168TGA) 1998. Guidelines for the evaluation of sterilants and disinfectants. Available at: https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/disinfectants-evaluation-guidelines.pdf
  6. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare. Canberra, Australia: NHMRC; 2019.
  7. Kollmann, C. and K. Salvesen (2017). “Best Practice recommendations for cleaning and disinfection of ultrasound transducers whilst maintaining transducer integrity.” European Committee for Medical Ultrasound Safety (ECMUS).
  8. JACQUES S. et al. (2017) GUIDELINES FOR CLEANING TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCERS BETWEEN PATIENTS World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology
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