Infection Prevention in Point of Care Testing: Equipment and Hygiene Guidelines
Infection Prevention in Point
of Care Testing
Point of Care Testing (POCT)
•
Diagnostic testing at or near the site of patient
care
•
Uses portable handheld devices
•
Glucose testing most common
Infection Control Concerns
•
Shared POCT devices are a potential vehicle for
transmission of blood-borne pathogens, such as
Hepatitis B
•
Some outbreaks of Hepatitis B in healthcare
settings tied to lapses in standard precautions
when glucometers and lancing devices were
used for multiple patients
Evaluate Equipment
•
Review POCT equipment such as lancing
devices and glucometers to determine if
equipment is designed for:
–
Single-use (disposable)
–
Health care professional use, and intended for
multiple use per the manufacturer
–
Patient self-testing, intended for use by one patient
•
Equipment designed for patient self-testing
should NOT be employed for facility POCT
Hand Hygiene and Gloves: CDC
•
Wear gloves during blood glucose monitoring
•
Remove and discard gloves after every patient
•
Change gloves that have touched potentially
blood-contaminated objects or fingerstick
wounds before touching clean surfaces
•
Perform hand hygiene immediately after the
removal of gloves and before touching other
medical supplies
intended for use on other
persons
Fingerstick / Lancing Devices
•
CDC: Single-use, auto-disabling disposable
fingerstick devices prevent reuse
–
For use i
n settings where assisted monitoring
of blood glucose is performed
–
Discard entire device after one and only one
use
•
CDC: Multiple use-capable lancing devices:
–
S
hould ONLY be used by INDIVIDUAL
persons for self-monitoring, not for assisted
monitoring
Glucometer
•
Shared glucometer is a potential vehicle for
blood borne pathogen transmission
•
Whenever possible, glucometers should NOT be
shared
•
CDC: If a glucometer must be shared, the device
MUST be cleaned and disinfected after every
use per the manufacturer’s instructions.
•
CDC: If the manufacturer does not specify how
the device should be cleaned and disinfected,
then it should NOT be shared.
Insulin Pens
•
Risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens
from shared use
•
CDC: insulin pens are for single-patient use only
and should NEVER be used for more than one
person
•
Even if needles are changed between patients,
contamination of the pen reservoir could result in
transmission of blood-borne pathogens from a
previous user
Thank you
This information focuses on infection prevention measures related to point-of-care testing (POCT), particularly concerning shared devices like lancing equipment and glucometers. It highlights the importance of evaluating equipment design, proper hand hygiene practices, and guidelines for using fingerstick and lancing devices. The content stresses the risks of blood-borne pathogen transmission and provides recommendations to minimize these risks when utilizing POCT in healthcare settings.
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Presentation Transcript
Infection Prevention in Point of Care Testing
Point of Care Testing (POCT) Diagnostic testing at or near the site of patient care Uses portable handheld devices Glucose testing most common
Infection Control Concerns Shared POCT devices are a potential vehicle for transmission of blood-borne pathogens, such as Hepatitis B Some outbreaks of Hepatitis B in healthcare settings tied to lapses in standard precautions when glucometers and lancing devices were used for multiple patients
Evaluate Equipment Review POCT equipment such as lancing devices and glucometers to determine if equipment is designed for: Single-use (disposable) Health care professional use, and intended for multiple use per the manufacturer Patient self-testing, intended for use by one patient Equipment designed for patient self-testing should NOT be employed for facility POCT
Hand Hygiene and Gloves: CDC Wear gloves during blood glucose monitoring Remove and discard gloves after every patient Change gloves that have touched potentially blood-contaminated objects or fingerstick wounds before touching clean surfaces Perform hand hygiene immediately after the removal of gloves and before touching other medical supplies intended for use on other persons
Fingerstick / Lancing Devices CDC: Single-use, auto-disabling disposable fingerstick devices prevent reuse For use in settings where assisted monitoring of blood glucose is performed Discard entire device after one and only one use CDC: Multiple use-capable lancing devices: Should ONLY be used by INDIVIDUAL persons for self-monitoring, not for assisted monitoring
Glucometer Shared glucometer is a potential vehicle for blood borne pathogen transmission Whenever possible, glucometers should NOT be shared CDC: If a glucometer must be shared, the device MUST be cleaned and disinfected after every use per the manufacturer s instructions. CDC: If the manufacturer does not specify how the device should be cleaned and disinfected, then it should NOT be shared.
Insulin Pens Risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens from shared use CDC: insulin pens are for single-patient use only and should NEVER be used for more than one person Even if needles are changed between patients, contamination of the pen reservoir could result in transmission of blood-borne pathogens from a previous user
