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conferenceseries.com
November 28-29, 2016 Valencia, Spain
4th World Congress on
Infection Prevention and Control
Volume 4, Issue 8 (Suppl) J Infect Dis Ther 2016
ISSN: 2332-0877, JIDT an open access journal Infection Control 2016
November 28-29, 2016
Benjamin Kung, J Infect Dis Ther 2016, 4:8 (Suppl)
Medical device reprocessing (MDR) in Alberta medical clinics: Patient safety risk warrants regulatory
oversight
Benjamin Kung
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, Canada
Historically in Alberta, responsibility for monitoring infection prevention & control (IPAC) in non-governmental, unaccredited
medical clinics had fallen on the business owner and/or physicians. In 2007, a sentinel event triggered a government directed
review of IPAC in these settings. A program was created under the direction of a 10-member Advisory Committee: Infectious disease
specialists, medical officers of health, senior infection control practitioners, and community physicians and surgeons. CPSA has
since actively monitored IPAC with a priority on standards for MDR (cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of medical devices).
Alberta has approximately 1700 medical facilities in the “non-governmental, unaccredited” category. Over 600 (>35%) perform some
type of MDR and these were assessed for adherence to standards during 2008-2015. In 2013, a provincial policy for reporting the
most critical deficiencies was formalized. From 2013-15, 131 assessments identified 17 (13.0%) with risks exceeding the reporting
threshold to public health. Deficiencies contributing to the likelihood of reporting included but were not limited to inadequate
device cleaning, lack of monitoring sterilization cycles for physical (time, temperature), chemical and/or biological parameters, use of
unlicensed sterilizers and inadequate level of reprocessing given device risk classification (Spaulding’s). Post-exposure risk assessment
deemed four (3.0%, n=131) a sufficient threat to initiate look backs for blood-borne pathogen exposure (HIV, HBV & HCV). Formal
reporting and post-exposure risk assessment confirmed initial observations suggesting clinics performing MDR are at elevated risk of
breaching IPAC principles that may jeopardize patient safety. The logistics and value of providing clinic support via robust regulatory
controls is worth exploring.
Biography
Benjamin Kung is the Program Manager of IPAC for the CPSA and additionally serves as Governance Committee Chair on the Board of Directors, Alberta Public
Health Association. He has completed his undergraduate training in Microbiology/Biology from University of Victoria and Environmental Public Health from British
Columbia Institute of Technology, followed by graduate studies in IPAC from University of British Columbia and Epidemiology at London School of Hygiene &
Tropical Medicine.