ASGE Masterclass: Infection Control (Live Virtual) | June 2021-02-Schlossberg_ASGE

02-Schlossberg_ASGE_Team Based Approach to Infection Control

Pdf Summary

This document discusses the importance of a team-based approach to infection control in endoscopy units, specifically focusing on staff training and building a leadership team. It highlights the necessity for collaboration and coordination of reprocessing activities to ensure proper cleaning and disinfection of endoscopes. The document raises questions about the need for vigilant reprocessing, knowledge about institutional practices, and the possibility of flaws in reprocessing processes.<br /><br />The document emphasizes the significance of history and experiences in infection control, citing various studies and publications on reprocessing critical items and the contamination of duodenoscopes. It also mentions the role of human factors, such as complacency, compliance, and lack of leadership, in infection risks. The concept of a high reliability model for healthcare culture is introduced.<br /><br />Leadership in the endoscopy unit is discussed, emphasizing the need for a well-defined governance structure and a qualified, interdisciplinary leadership team. The roles and responsibilities of the leadership team include developing infection control policies and procedures, directing performance improvement projects, and addressing infection outbreaks.<br /><br />The document suggests that a lack of leadership can lead to wide-ranging consequences, such as patient harm, resource exhaustion, litigation risk, and damage to the organization's trust and reputation. It highlights the importance of establishing a reprocessing oversight committee charter and communication plan.<br /><br />The document provides a step-by-step guide to improving infection control practices, including assembling a multidisciplinary team, finding and reviewing all scopes and instructions for use (IFU), conducting a mock tracer, performing a gap analysis, developing improvement plans, and ongoing evaluation and adjustment.<br /><br />The importance of staff training and competency is emphasized, with recommendations for written policies, standard infection prevention and control recommendations, model-specific reprocessing training, competency evaluation, and partnerships with endoscope manufacturers.<br /><br />In summary, the document emphasizes the critical role of infection prevention in endoscopy units and the need for a comprehensive team-based approach that includes staff training, leadership, and ongoing evaluation to ensure patient safety and prevent the transmission of pathogens.

Keywords

team-based approach

infection control

endoscopy units

staff training

leadership team

reprocessing activities

cleaning and disinfection

institutional practices

flaws in reprocessing processes

patient safety