In their infection control efforts, hospitals and medical facilities are turning to disposable medical equipment and products. The use of disposable medical devices ensures the safety of staff and patients, including ensuring proper infection and disease control. Today, hospital infections are a major concern for the healthcare industry. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that in the United States the average number of hospital-related infections increases annually to 1.7 million people, resulting in approximately 100,000 deaths! This is at least a stunning figure. Therefore, it is imperative for medical centers to find an effective way to combat this growing safety issue. Disposable medical products and equipment - the best solution in hand.
Before the introduction of disposable products, the usual method of sterilizing medical equipment was carried out mainly through autoclaves. With the use of heat and intense pressure, autoclaves sterilize objects. This process was effective and, therefore, it was decided to use autoclaves in all medical centers for more than a century. But with the introduction of disposable medical equipment, this practice gradually disappears.
The autoclaving process, however, is not without errors. Without proper training, medical devices will not be fully sterilized. In addition, there are other problems. For example, plastic or rubber products cannot be sterilized, since the high temperature required for autoclaving will melt these items. Although an autoclave capable of killing most bacteria, viruses, and fungi from medical equipment, this sterilization process is ineffective against prions, the causative agent of such deadly diseases as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) - a neurodegenerative disease, Mad Cow disease, among others. Despite the fact that autoclaves are still used in hospitals and laboratories, disposable medical equipment is safe and easy to use.
Another important reason why disposable medical supplies, such as “use and throw” syringes, scalpels, face masks, surgical gloves, catheters are widely used because the risk of infection with these products is less. With a weakened immune system, patients risk becoming victims of cross-infection. Hospital medical personnel are also at great risk of contracting pathogens in the absence of proper sterilization and safety standards when visiting patients. Disposable medical equipment is mainly disposable products. After use, they are destroyed and destroyed along with other medical waste. Here the use of these products reduces the risk of contracting fatal infections.
Each health center should ensure that patients as well as staff do not become infected with infections. The use of disposable medical equipment certainly helps medical institutions maintain proper safety and health standards.
