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INFECTION PREVENTION
MedWatch form (tinyurl.com/b5aafm2) — they'll follow up to determine
if the problem is more widespread, or whether it was just that bottle
(which would indicate the issue may be in your facility). If it turns out
it's OK to dispose of the solution, send it out with your biohazardous
waste.
A final caution
Finally, remember that you can't super-sanitize the patient or the OR
— so don't mix solutions. But, back to keeping antiseptic solutions
from becoming contaminated: Awareness is the key.
"Users should … be aware that microbial contamination can occur
when they are opening containers or diluting and storing solutions
under nonsterile conditions," write the FDA researchers. "The period during which a container, once opened, can remain safe from
extrinsic contamination is unknown. Aware-ness on the part of users
may reduce the likelihood that multidose antiseptic products will
become contaminated." OSM
Mr. Sellars (david.sellars@hma.com) is the director of pharmacy services at
Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, Mo.
On the Web
NEJM article on antiseptic solutions
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1212680
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | M A R C H 2013
