Amendments have been added to the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) standard ANSI/AAMI ST79, Comprehensive Guide to Steam Sterilization and Sterility Assurance in Health Care Facilities. The standard, which is used in healthcare facilities to guide their sterilization processes, is considered a useful resource to promote best…
Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on May 12, listed the top 5 standards most frequently identified as “not compliant” during surveys and reviews from January 1 to December 31, 2020. The top five for accredited hospitals are: NPSG.15.01.01: Reduce the risk for suicide. EP1. IC.02.02.01: The hospital reduces the risk…
Editor's Note ECRI and the Association for Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AHVAP) have partnered on a new white paper outlining key supply chain lessons and risk mitigation strategies learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the lessons learned is the critical role physicians play in the value analysis process and that…
Editor's Note The Food & Drug Administration announced on April 20 that Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) was recalling certain lots of its ChloraPrep Hi-Lite Orange 26 mL Applicator. ChloraPrep is used as an antiseptic to prepare a patient’s skin before surgery. The recall was initiated because the Applicator, which…
Editor's Note Hospira Inc, a Pfizer company, announced May 4 that it is recalling lot EG6023 of 0.5% Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection, USP 30 mL and lot EG8933 of 1% Lidocaine HCL Injection, USP 30 mL because of mislabeling. A portion of each lot was incorrectly labeled as the other product.…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration, on April 30, identified the recall of the Alaris Infusion Pump Module 8100 as Class I, the most serious. The Pacific Medical Group (DBA Avante Health Solutions) is recalling the infusion pump because the front bezel components may crack or separate, leading to…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on April 26, identified the recall by Cordis Corporation of its Precise PRO Rx US Carotid System as Class I, the most serious. The Carotid System is being recalled due to a risk of separation of the atraumatic distal tip of the…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on April 20, identified the recall of Medtronic’s Bio-Console 560 Extracorporeal Blood Pumping Console as Class I, the most serious. The Console is used during heart surgery to pump and return blood to a patient during cardiopulmonary bypass. The recall was initiated…
Editor's Note In this JAMA Insights article, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, conclude that increasing air changes per hour and air filtration are simple concepts that could be used to help reduce within-room, far-field (ie, within-room but beyond 6 feet)…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on April 12, identified the recall of Medtronic’s Evera, Viva, Brava, Claria, Amplia, Compia, and Visia implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds) as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of an unexpected and rapid…