8 useful tips for surgical instrument care

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High quality surgical instruments can be an amazing investment. Offering exceptional performance and durability, some studies have shown such instruments can last for well over 30 years.(1)

However, even the finest surgical instruments will only last if they are carefully handled, properly maintained and professionally serviced. Follow these 10 tips to help ensure your instruments last for as long as possible:

1.      USE AS INTENDED

Never use a surgical instrument for anything other than the purpose for which it was designed. By misusing instruments, you can cause irreversible damage by stressing the parts and damaging the surface.

2.      HANDLE WITH CARE

Poor handling of surgical instruments is a sure-fire way to damage them, so don’t start throwing them around or leaving them in unsuitable conditions. If you do, you may quickly find that your instruments suffer fractures or become contaminated and corroded.

3.      AVOID DRIED RESIDUE

Clean used instruments quickly to avoid any residue drying onto the surface. This is because, blood and other secretions can cause discolouration and corrosion.

4.      AVOID LEAVING WET

Once cleaned, make sure the instruments are dried properly. Instruments left in liquid cause a galvanic current that can lead to galvanic corrosion.

5.      AVOID MECHANICAL STRESS

Don’t stress an instrument beyond its capabilities as this can lead to misalignment of instrument parts. It can also cause tension or stress corrosion: the spontaneous cracking of instrument parts subject to high tensile pressure, such as screws and welded sections.

6.      STICK TO PROCESS

Make sure that routines in the Central Sterilisation Department are strictly followed. This includes ensuring that instruments are cleaned at the correct temperature, using the correct detergent and that they are stacked and dried correctly.

7.      CLEAN AS ADVISED

Always adhere to manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and sterilisation. In particular, it is important to stick to dosage and duration guidelines for the detergent you are using.

8.      AVOID POOR SERVICING

Always use a certified repair facility, as inexpert servicing can ruin valuable instruments. By having your surgical instruments professionally inspected, refurbished and realigned, you can help ensure that they are restored to top condition.

If you found the above tips useful, you can click here to view and download our handy infographic for surgical instrument care. 

WANT MORE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT CARE TIPS?

For ongoing tips on how to maintain your valuable surgical instruments just click here and follow our LinkedIn page. As well as tips on instrument care, we also post news on upcoming surgical events, advances in surgical technology and new product updates.

REFERENCES:

(1)   Dahl G, Ölveback T, Wiklung L. Quality surgical instruments best investment. Presented: SEORNA, Swedish Operating Nurse Association Conference Meeting, 29-30 November 2012

Choosing absorbent mats for your labour ward

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From amniotic fluid release to mild blood loss and intrapartum haemorrhage, there can be a host of reasons for having a high performance absorbent mat to hand in labour wards or obstetrics theatres.

Of course, there are suction devices out there that can remove fluids from floors, but these can often be noisy and pose a trip hazard, so absorbent floor mats can provide a better solution.

In this article, we look at three types of absorbent mat that can contribute towards a drier and safer environment for patients and staff:

1. The T-Mat for obstetrics theatres

Designed for obstetrics theatre floors to collect fluids during caesareans, the T-Mat collects and binds liquids hygienically, with excess fluid turning into a gel within only 2 to 3 minutes.

As the most absorbent mat on the UK market, the T-Mat can absorb up to 8.5 litres of water or 3.5 litres of saline. Measuring 75 x 36cm, the T-Mat should be positioned on the floor where you expect fluids to pool.

Its ability to lock in fluids reduces the risk of slips and trips, as well as the time needed to clean up post-procedure.

In addition, its non-drip design, which wicks liquid away from the surface, means that it can be easily disposed of in clinical waste with minimal risk of cross-contamination.

2. The DryMax XL for obstetrics scrub rooms

If you are looking for an absorbent mat that you can stand on whilst scrubbing up or performing an operation, then the DryMax XL is the perfect choice.

Designed with an anti-skid barrier layer, the mat stays in place and prevents absorbed fluids from passing through, thereby preventing slips on wet floors.

Measuring 100 x 75cm, the DryMax XL can be conveniently cut to fit an area. Capable of absorbing up to 2 litres of fluid, its non-drip design allows for quick and easy disposal, with minimum risk of cross-infection.

3. The DryMax Sterile for labour rooms and obstetrics theatres

If you are looking for an absorbent mat that can be placed under or close to the patient during labour or a caesarean, then the DryMax Sterile is the ideal solution.

Measuring 72 x 37cm, this disposable mat can absorb up to 6 litres of fluids such as urine, blood and amniotic fluid and 2.4 litres of saline.

Being non-drip, it can be easily disposed of as clinical waste, enabling a quicker turnaround and reducing the time needed for clean-up.

Trialling absorbent mats for your labour ward

If you would like more information on the above mats or to discuss your fluid collection requirements call 0845 226 0185 or email info@cairntechnology.com

Hospitals are also welcome to trial a couple of mats for free to see how staff find using them in their own labour rooms and obstetrics theatres, so if this is of interest, please feel free to contact us.

Poor quality instruments put patients at risk

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Fears that contaminated surgical instruments are causing unnecessary illness and deaths because of the risk of infection continue to hit the headlines.

From Alzheimer’s proteins to HIV, Hepatitis B or C and many more dangerous diseases, there seems to be a steady stream of stories about how patients’ health has been put at risk.

What is not often mentioned in conjunction with these stories however, is the fact that poor quality surgical instruments are often to blame for poor standards of infection control.

What’s more, despite a BBC documentary “Surgery’s Dirty Secrets” revealing several years ago that large numbers of surgical tools used in the NHS failed to meet quality standards, the problem of poor quality instruments is still rife.

In fact, Tom Brophy, a lead technologist with Barts Health NHS Trust went on record at the time to say that about 20% of all the instruments that he received were rejected because of flaws that could put patient’s health at risk.

So why do poor quality surgical instruments pose a risk?

Poorly manufactured surgical instruments can risk patient health for a number of reasons:

·         Micro-punctures in surgeons’ gloves

Poor quality surgical instruments are often machine-made and finished, leaving metal fragments and sharp burs that can lacerate surgical gloves.

As these punctures can be miniscule, they can easily go undetected during a surgical procedure, creating an easy pathway for infection to be transferred to the patient.

·         Defects that are invisible to the naked eye

In addition to revealing sharp burs and microscopic shards of steel, an inspection of a poor-quality instrument under a microscope will often reveal numerous other defects that can pose a risk to patients.

This is because by using low-grade steel, such instruments can easily become corroded or pitted and even develop hairline fractures.

This means that whilst an instrument might seem perfectly clean to the naked eye, a look under a microscope can reveal numerous areas that could be harbouring dangerous bacteria and viruses.

·         Unclean manufacturing facilities

Although Swedish craftsmanship and German-quality stainless steel may come to mind when one thinks of surgical instruments, two-thirds of the world’s instruments are actually made in Pakistan.

While some of these manufacturers adhere to high standards of manufacture, others have been found to operate in dust-filled environments near to open sewers, piling newly made instruments on the floor and failing even to carry out a visual inspection with a magnifying glass before marking their wares with a CE quality stamp.

Clearly this then begs the question just how clean these brand-new instruments are by the time they get into the hands of our UK surgeons.

·         Low grade materials

It is clear to see why both UK surgeons and NHS procurement teams would want to avoid poor quality instruments that pose such risks of infection and harm, even when the pricing can differ so significantly between high-quality and poor-quality instruments.

Of course, German stainless steel is recognised as the very best material for making surgical instruments, but in a time of ongoing budgetary pressures on the NHS, surely it makes sense to buy less expensive ‘German’ instruments than recognised brands?

However, due diligence is needed here as well, as the ‘Dirty Secrets’ documentary also revealed Pakistani representatives offering to sell tools made with Pakistani and French steel that are stamped “Made in Germany”.

The result is that hospitals may still end up paying a lot for substandard instruments that pose a risk to hygiene and health.

·         Design limitations that affect cleanliness

Another issue with poorly manufactured surgical instruments is that they have not been designed to be dismantled for cleaning and inspection.

As infection is harder to eradicate around instrument joints, being able to fully separate parts can significantly reduce the risk of cleaned instruments continuing to harbour germs.

LOOKING FOR HIGH QUALITY SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS?

Why not browse our range of Stille and Lawton quality surgical instruments by clicking here?

You can also contact the Cairn instrument team on 0845 226 0185 to discuss individual instruments, recommended instrument sets or to arrange for a demonstration of specific instruments.

Surgical Instrument Care Infographic

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Poor Air Quality in the Workplace: Is it Safe?

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This week, Transport for London announced that it will be introducing air filters on 100 London buses to help stop the spread of COVID-19 after 26 London transport workers have died from the disease.

The filters were originally designed to tackle air pollution but have been repurposed to remove 95% of airborne particles, including those carrying the virus.

Improving Air Quality with Air Purifiers in the Workplace

It seems that the organisation is one of the first to use this technology to safeguard its workforce and customers, however it is anticipated that thousands of businesses will follow suit, investing in air purifiers to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria amongst staff.

More often than not, humans are the main source of airborne diseases in the workplace. When someone sneezes or coughs, tiny water or mucous droplets filled with viruses or bacteria scatter, easily entering the air, and then entering your lungs, making you ill. Even without a cough or sneeze, germs can travel up to six feet away. Some viruses stay suspended in the air for hours.

Reducing Staff Sickness Through Air Quality and Ventilation

In the months and years to come, in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, businesses are likely to take the health and wellbeing of employees more seriously and implement additional measures to safeguard their workforce. Crowded conditions with poor air circulation, like public transport and office environments, make it easy for viruses like colds and flu to spread.

Research shows that airflow and ventilation can dramatically impact how diseases spread indoors. The more stagnant the air in your workplace is, the more likely diseases are to spread.

How to Introduce Air Purifiers to the Workplace

Blueair air purifiers have been advocated for use in the workplace for a number of years.  Testing by the accredited CAS Test Technical Services measured a 99.99% removal rate of the 12 most common viruses and bacteria by the Classic 280i, Classic 480i and Classic 680i, including swine flu (H1N1), E. coli, and Enterovirus (EV71).*

Not only do Blueair purifiers capture harmful airborne viruses and bacteria, but the proprietary HEPASilent™ technology actually kills germs. Internal tests measured 99% of germs were killed by the Blueair Classic family – leaving the bacteria and viruses unviable and unable to reproduce.

It is a relatively simple step – simply plug it in and let it do its thing, but it could make a huge difference to businesses and we anticipate a huge increase in demand over the coming months.

Find out more about our Blueair air purifer range or get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Clean Air: The Smartest Addition To Your Business

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Air pollution isn’t new, it’s something that most people are aware of and in bustling congested cities it has become a major health concern. Pollutants such as construction dust, and diesel particulate are trapped in the atmosphere along with smoke, pollen and manufacturing emissions can react with sunlight and create photochemical smog and ground level ozone.

This low down ozone can cause lung damage. It is especially unhealthy for children, whose lungs are developing, and for people with respiratory illnesses like asthma. Ozone can also cause itchy, burning eyes. What people don’t often realise is this pollution can become trapped indoors.

Add this to everyday indoor pollutants and allergens, such as dust, pet dander and bacteria, and the air in your workplace may be up to 5 times more polluted than the air you breathe out and about in the city.

Exposure to indoor air pollution has been linked to the development of everything from infections to asthma to lung cancer. It can also cause less serious side effects such as headaches, nasal congestion, nausea, fatigue and dry eyes. If you suffer from an existing lung condition you will be at a greater risk of experiencing symptoms.

Blue Air is leading the way in air purification and is an ideal addition to public areas such as waiting rooms, communal kitchens or meeting rooms; high traffic areas which have the potential to trap air pollution and hold it indoors. The purifiers catch airborne contaminants down to the size of viruses, plus pollen, dust, pet dander, mould spores, smoke, allergens and bacteria. The combination filter with active carbon even removes odours, gases and the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which cause that ground level ozone.

This means that they are not only ideal for protection against the every day pollution which is part of modern life, but also help with conditions such as asthma, allergies, for example hayfever, they remove tobacco smoke and unwanted odours from the air.

Not only do Blue Air purifiers capture harmful airborne viruses and bacteria, but our proprietary HEPASilent™ technology actually kills germs. Internal tests measured 99% of germs were killed by Blueair HealthProtect – leaving the bacteria and viruses unviable and unable to reproduce.

The Blue Air HealthProtect range is suitable for spaces from 38m² to 62m² and will purify the air in your room up to five times per hour. Built in WiFi which enables performance monitoring via the Blueair Friend app through smartphone or tablet, plus voice control convenience via Alexa.

Unique HEPASilent™ technology combines two air purification technologies – electrostatic and mechanical filtration – to bring you the best of both worlds. The HealthProtect air purifiers combine the highest clean air delivery rate (CADR) with whisper-silent operation. In fact, HealthProtect works so quietly that you might have to check to make sure it’s switched on. And it uses less electricity than a light bulb.

As public health has never been more in focus, an investment in clean air will protect your team and visitors from all those pollutants that we associate with outdoors that we are unknowingly breathing indoors.

Will Workplaces Change Forever Post-Covid-19 Pandemic?

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As businesses begin to reopen and people return to work, the question is, will workplaces in the UK ever be the same again?

Office Design

Office design has been big business for years, with firms trying to make the maximise capacity in increasingly clever and cool ways. Breakout areas for staff to collaborate away from their desks have been popular, along with communal lunch areas and recreational facilities to provide a break from intensive and intricate tasks.

Social distancing rules now mean that offices simply cannot be so densely populated, and that staff should be mixing as little as possible, with hot desking a complete no no.

Start and Finish Times

There are other perils of the workplace, the first being the entrance and exit. Large number of workers starting and finishing at the same time and accessing the workplace through the same entrance is a social distancing headache.

The immediate answer as suggested in a recent article in The Economist¹ is introducing office shifts, staggered start and finish times, some staff working from home but is this realistic in the long term?

The press widely reported the viewpoint of Jes Staley, Chief Executive of Barclays when he said that big, expensive city offices, “…may be a thing of the past.” He added that the bank was evaluating how much office space it needed.²

Cleaning and making a safe place to work

Big or small, there will always be a need for offices as workplaces. Once inside, office based staff must have confidence that it is a safe place to work. Cleaning must be more often, more thorough and using appropriate products. All high traffic touch points must be cleaned with virucidal disinfectant, and staff must take responsibility for their own personal hygiene with regular hand washing and sanitising becoming the norm.

Employers must take all possible steps to reduce the risk of infection. A recent article by Comparative Immunologist and Professor of Biology, Erin Bromage³, shows how breathing the same air in an enclosed space increased the chance of exposure and infection. Air purification can remove up to 99.99% of viruses from the air, along with bacteria, allergens, and outdoor pollutant as such as diesel particular which become trapped indoors. This is a simple but effective step that all businesses could take to safeguard their workforce. An air purifier, such as the Blue Air Classic can simply be plugged in and within an hour, the air in the room is clean.

The short answer to the question will workplaces in the UK ever be the same is no, it is unlikely. However, we will have leaned valuable lessons not just in the fight against COVID-19, but in the responsibility of businesses to provide a safe working environment.

1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52467965

2. https://www.economist.com/business/2020/05/09/dont-stand-so-close-to-me

3. https://www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-them?fbclid=IwAR3-Xd9U7-62VWsy0hFq6XgUWpCwK_Z5jr1zPMSfrMtukAkZLlJ_oFZ5t7w

Face Masks & Beards: Will Corona Kill The Beard?

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Facial hair has become a fashion staple in recent years. From uber manicured stubble, to the full on hipster beard, it’s a trend that has shown no signs of slowing. Until now.

The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen life change immeasurably for millions of people around the world an everyone taking the necessary steps to keep both themselves and their loved ones safe.

The use of face masks to protect against Coronavirus continues to be a hot topic and until such time as a vaccine is found it is likely that we will see their widespread use.

However, to be effective, masks must be used correctly. And this is where the beard could meet its demise. It stands to reason that the closer a mask can fit, the more effective it is. It has long been a rule that healthcare workers with facial hair cannot have a mask fitted. The Journal of Hospital Infection has today published a study which backs up the theory that keeping the beard could put men at greater risk from airborne particles. For more information, read the study.

Hospitals will lead from the front and advise staff accordingly, as their frontline teams will must be face fit tested with masks creating an adequate seal. However it is important that this message filters down to key workers and care staff, so that no matter what grade of mask they are using they can get the best out of it and keep themselves safe.

Finally, it is likely that we will see the general public using masks for some time to come and it is key that everyone knows how to get the most out of their facemask.

So it could be bye bye beards…

Return To Work After Covid: Duty of Care & Sanitation

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Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, there’s been a range of different rules and recommendations for the workplace. It was often difficult to make concrete plans until the government released their own plans and recommendations at different stages. But many business owners and managers are already thinking about how it might work and what procedures they’ll want to keep for the long term.

Duty of Care in the Workplace

What is apparent is that employers will have a duty to provide a safe working environment in which their team feels confident. This will be done through a combination of staggered work times, distancing in the workplace, strict sanitation rules and enhanced cleaning programmes.

Infection Control and Sanitation at Work

As infection control specialists, we have supported the medical and care sectors for decades, with advice, cleaning schedules and high level cleaners and disinfectants. We are a tried and tested partner in the prevention and containment of infection.

More recently this has extended to businesses, and we’ve been using our expertise to keep things moving pre-lockdown and now getting them back to work.

Cleaning Products for Viruses in the Workplace

You’ll want to ensure the cleaning products you use in the workplace are adequate and able to disinfect surfaces effectively and with long-lasting protection. Our virusidal, microbial and sporicidal Virusolve+ products are independently lab tested and proven to be effective against a wide range of common viruses, bacteria and even superbugs. This includes COVID-19, ‘Flu, Norovirus, MRSA, C.Diff, Hepatitis, E.Coli, Salmonella, and many, many more.

Not only that, in its ready to use form Virusolve+ is non hazardous. It is Defra approved for use in food preparation areas, and CQC approved. It also has a residual effect which can continue to work for up to seven days. It is the ideal product to use in a workplace to keep staff safe and comes as a liquid, spray or in a wipe format.

Installing Hand Sanitiser in the Workplace

Now workers are back in the office, hand sanitiser will be a crucial way to help stop the spread of viruses and bacteria in the office. The Virusan hand sanitiser we recommend comes as a liquid or gel and these products will be vital in workplaces to ensure good personal hygiene practices. Again, businesses can rest assured that these are hospital grade products, and of the correct standards to safeguard staff.

As government plans unfold and change, new requirements will become apparent, but for businesses planning now, please contact us for infection control advice and guidance.

Email: info@cairntechnology.com Tel: 0845 226 0185

 

Why PPE Must Really Protect

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In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic there is much being reported about PPE, and in particular, the distinct lack of it.

Cairn Technology has been a health and safety expert in the medical sector for over 20 years and has worked extensively with UK hospitals in providing top quality PPE for chemical spills, and training staff in the correct usage of the equipment. This puts us in a ideal position to enter the current debate on the situation in the UK.

The first thing to be aware of is that there are different grades of PPE. Frontline workers need equipment which meets certain standards, using lesser quality items puts them at risk of infection. And whilst there is an argument that says something is better than nothing, these people have a right to do their job with the correct equipment and protection.

Many organisations have responded to the shortage by manufacturing PPE, however, unless it can be verified to these standards it cannot be commissioned for frontline staff. By the same token, there are news reports that, for example, millions of facemasks have been offered to the government by UK companies. What isn’t properly reported is that these masks are either not of the standard required, or the prices are prohibitive.

Cairn has been working extensively with front line staff on face fit testing – to ensure that the FFP3 masks worn by those providing primary care fit with an effective seal around the face. This provides 96% protection for the wearer, and is why you may have seen pictures of doctors and nurses with bruised faces from long days wearing these items. To dispel another myth, surgical masks which simply cover the nose and mouth without creating an effective seal are not adequate for frontline staff.

The cost of one of the recommended FFP3 masks was previously in the £5-£6 bracket. The asking price for the few which are available is now around £40 per mask. This kind of unethical profiteering is preventing equipment from reaching the frontline. Whilst the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis has been unprecedented it is important that the public understand that all spending must be paid back somehow, at some future point.

It seems that some supplies of PPE are now reaching the frontline, but the need will continue long into the future. One of the best ways for us to keep frontline staff safe is to ensure that what equipment they are provided with is up to standard and provides adequate protection. The public getting caught up in the media storm and buying into unreliable reporting is not helpful and detracts from the task in hand.

As a long term supplier of PPE, Cairn Technology is working hard to try to source the correct equipment at a fair price, to enable us to continue long term relationships within the medical and care industries. Our customer relationships are built on trust and that is something that we will not be exploiting.

Watch this space for updates.