ReUse of Single Use Devices

KaroSnowQueen, RN · Apr 17, 2003

They are looking at dollars and not using sense?????

P_RN, ADN, RN · Apr 17, 2003

I think that the FDA may have been influenced by the recycle/recleaning places. Endoscopy instruments, heart catheters etc. all seem too likely to be non reuseable in my opinion. Surely the original equipment manufacturers would have been against this.

It's one thing to reprocess something that's never been touched by a patient. A thoracotomy tray for example that was inadvertantly opened. It goes to SPD and gets resterilized.

Karo you are too right here. No sense at all.

KELLYGIRL · Apr 17, 2003

I think I am going to puke now...

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 17, 2003

FDA Issues Final Guidance on Reuse of Single-Use Medical Devices

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/ANS01027.html

Manufacturer's :

Position Paper on the Reuse of Single-Use Medical Devices

http://www.advamed.org/publicdocs/reusepaper21899.htm

Europe:

http://www.medical-devices.gov.uk/mda/mdawebsitev2.nsf/7b31481c2988df5800256a7600410663/34de0fbf319d0fb180256c8b003959da/$FILE/db2000(04).pdf

AORN Journal: Reprocessing single-use medical devices.

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m0FSL/3_75/84183550/print.jhtml

AAMI Collection of Articles:

http://www.aami.org/resources/reuse/government.html

nurse2002 · Apr 17, 2003

Originally posted by Scopette
:imbar Please help. I know I'm not the only one with major concerns about the latest cost saving trend: Reprocessing SUDs (Single-Use-Devices) by third party reprocessors. The director of 'supply services' attempted to institute the use of a third party processor a year ago but it was stalled by Infection Control. Now the Network Office is supporting it and planning to 'get buy in'...

I'm most familiar with the endoscopy devices on the list (they are extremely difficult to clean. Our staff will be at increased risk of exposure to pathogens....And I don't believe there is anyway to assure sterility of some of these items....The recent incidents of infections related to bronchoscopys demonstrate how difficult it is to determine the root cause of procedure related infections)

SO.... How can persons that have no concept of the design; & use of these devices make a unilateral decision to re-use single use devices :confused:

I had a home health pt that I had taught to catheterize himself.

Well, he was doing well and very confident performing this procedure. I had much confidence in him also. Until..............................he recieved some info from a friend that has to do the same. Self catheterize. This friend actually gave him a "recipe" to boil the catheters and use them again and again. After much, and I mean much education I could not convince him not to reuse the catheters.

Has anyone ever heard of this? I can just see the bacteria growing inside those catheters. This just wasnt how I was taught.

He has been discharged from our agency. I would like to know how this "recipe" is going, but I just cant bring myself to call.

renerian, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2003

Sorry but if Medicare only pays for six catheters per month the client can wash them. You can boil or use vinegar. It has been done like that for many years. Yep. If the client has no money to buy any that is what they have to do. Reuse in home health. As far as some of the other items that does not sound to good.

renerian

P_RN, ADN, RN · Apr 17, 2003

Urologists all the time teach patients how to self cath and then wash and dry the catheter for reuse. As long as it's a one person deal it's a clean procedure not a sterile one.

nurse2002 · Apr 17, 2003

Originally posted by renerian
Sorry but if Medicare only pays for six catheters per month the client can wash them. You can boil or use vinegar. It has been done like that for many years. Yep. If the client has no money to buy any that is what they have to do. Reuse in home health. As far as some of the other items that does not sound to good.

renerian

I think he boils and uses vinegar. Your reply makes me feel much better. I learn something new every day. Thanks!

:)

renerian, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2003

Your very welcome. I remember when I started home health I was so shocked to see another world without ample supplies in patients homes. I have a client right now using towels since she cannot afford incontinence pads. Very sad.

renerian

mert · Apr 18, 2003

Regarding reusing self catheters; we had a lady on the program, I think for residual, anyway, the caths were washed, then soaked in Savlon, or chlorohexidine. I was surprised at the time, too. :eek: It was okay, per policy. (Homecare)

mario_ragucci · Apr 19, 2003

When a PT is discharged, they can take unused stuf that enters their room. There is an issue with bacteria or virus getting onto a reusables, right. Perhaps it's an issue when contamination is considered.

When I did clinicals at a sniff, I noted how the residents were re-washing the socks they left the hospital with. I could tell because the grip-pads on the bottom of those socks revealed several washing. Older folks like to hold on to stuff, where today we throw everything away, except oximeter probes and SCD's or J-Pads. Lol.