4 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
F
rom biological indicators to sterilization containers, here's a
breakdown of the latest weapons you can add to your bug-
busting arsenal as part of a bundled approach for reducing the
risk of surgical site infections (SSIs).
1
Rapid readout
technology.
There is now a 30-
minute biological indi-
cator (BI) for all
Sterrad (hydrogen per-
oxide gas plasma)
sterilizers. Until now,
the only approved BI
couldn't be read for 24 hours. However, with the Sterrad Velocity, it is
now feasible to hold the sterilized load until the BI is read, says Luci
Perri, RN, BSN, MSN, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, founder and president of
Infection Control Results, based in North Carolina. The BI is compati-
ble with all features of the Sterrad sterilizer, including a touchscreen
reader with results that can be sent directly to a computer, she adds.
2
Nasal decolonization.
The practice of nasal decolonization
using a topical antibiotic in specific patient populations has been
largely replaced with non-antibiotic nasal antiseptics that to date have
not shown any antimicrobial resistance, says Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC,
FAPIC, president of Infection Control Consulting Services.
"They're fast acting, have a persistence that lasts for several hours
Dan O'Connor | Editor-in-Chief
5 Innovations in Infection Control
The latest products and practices to help you bust those bugs.
• 30-MINUTE BI The Sterrad Velocity biological indicator (BI) system from Advanced
Sterilization Products.
