GMS Hygiene and Infection Control最新文献

{"title":"Statement by the Commission for Infection Prevention and Hygiene in Healthcare and Nursing (KRINKO) on the indication-appropriate use of mouth-nose protection (MNS) in healthcare.","authors":"","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000628","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000628","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>When using a mouth-nose protection (MNS), the indications for their use are not always clear in practice, so that they are often worn even if it is not indicated for infection prevention and control (IPC). This affects the ecological balance and use of resources.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Indications and misindications for the use of MNS were extracted from KRINKO recommendations and other publications and presented in a structured manner.</p><p><strong>Measures and strategies: </strong>Three types of MNS which are distinguished in the DIN EN 14683 are presented. Examples for typical indications for medical face masks for healthcare workers, patients and external persons are summarized. Examples of situations in which the use of medical face masks is not indicated are also shown. By reducing the use of medical face masks through strictly indication-based use, clarification of the areas of application for the three types of MNS, and differentiated and indication-based use of FFP2 masks, a responsible and sustainable use of medical face masks can be implemented in accordance with IPC measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc19"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12981040/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147467659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phytomedicines and conventional drugs in scabies management.","authors":"Majedul Hoque","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000625","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000625","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>In some countries, the prevalence of scabies varies from 32.1% to 74%, especially in overcrowded institutions like boarding schools, prisons, and orphanages. The aim of this article is to give an overview of current options for scabies treatment, with the focus on natural treatment choices.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Different research databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, Springer, Science Direct, and NIH also scientific website were searched using keywords like \"scabies\", \"natural treatment for scabies\", \"plant-based oil\", \"chemical agent for scabies\", \"essential oil used to treat scabies mite\", and \"traditional medicine\" to collect relevant information.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A lot of medicinal plants have been reviewed for their potential use in treating scabies, including <i>Melaleuca alternifolia</i>, <i>Curcuma longa</i>, <i>Azadirachta indica</i>, <i>Rosmarinus officinalis</i>, <i>Capsicum annuum</i>, <i>Ocimum sanctum</i>, <i>Pongamia pinnata</i>, and <i>Citrus limon</i>. Numerous bioactive chemicals found in all of the plants under study have the potential to treat scabies and can be used to treat this illness.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Medicinal herbs offer a potential, safer, and possibly more successful therapeutic alternative for the treatment of scabies along with conventional chemical drugs because of their richness of bioactive components with antibacterial qualities. This area of research must be continued.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc16"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12981035/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147466569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Marked by stigma, inked by belief: tattooing in leprosy - a community perspective.","authors":"Nimisha Kabra, Rajesh Sinha, Aditya Abhishek Jaiswal","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000626","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000626","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Leprosy remains a public health challenge in India, not merely due to medical reasons but because of persistent stigma and deep-rooted cultural beliefs that influence health-seeking behaviour. This case report describes a 28-year-old woman with borderline tuberculoid leprosy who delayed seeking medical care due to cultural beliefs.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>After an 8-month delay in seeking medical care, the patient presented with a hypopigmented, hypoesthetic patch over the right knee, along with thickening of the right common peroneal nerve. Notably, two sets of intersecting tattoo lines were observed over the lesion applied by a traditional healer in an attempt to contain the disease. Histopathology confirmed a diagnosis of borderline tuberculoid leprosy, and high-resolution ultrasonography corroborated peripheral nerve involvement. The patient was subsequently given multidrug therapy for multibacillary leprosy, adult regimen for 12 months and received detailed counselling on disease management.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The case highlights how cultural practices can hinder early diagnosis and effective management. Culturally sensitive health education is essential to combat stigma and improve leprosy control.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc17"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12981038/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147467855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection of non-tuberculous mycobacteria and other bacterial pathogens in dental unit waterlines, 2024, Germany: a microbiological single-centre study.","authors":"Lea-Elisa Heinz, Matthias Hannig, Stefan Rupf, Madline P Gund, Barbara C Gärtner, Sören L Becker, Uwe Schlotthauer","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000623","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000623","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dental unit waterlines (DUWL) might pose infection risks due to the presence of biofilms. A global outbreak of <i>Mycobacterium (M.) chimaera</i> through water-carrying medical devices in cardiac surgery highlighted the importance of water for pathogen transmission. We aimed to assess the presence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), <i>Legionella</i> spp., and <i>Pseudomonas (P.)</i> spp. in DUWLs in one tertiary medical centre in Germany to evaluate their potential role as causative agents of infections linked to dental procedures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional, microbiological single-centre study at Saarland University Medical Centre in Homburg, Germany from May to July 2024. We examined 42 DUWLs once before the daily patient care started. After DUWL flushing, 500 mL water samples were collected. <i>Legionella</i> spp. were detected after up to 10 days of incubation, <i>Pseudomonas (P.)</i> spp. via membrane filtration and 48-hour incubation, and NTM using liquid and solid cultures with up to eight weeks of incubation. Clinically relevant NTM species such as <i>M. chimaera</i> and <i>M. chelonae</i> were identified using a GenoType line probe assay. We calculated frequencies and proportions of positive samples.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Bacterial growth was detected in 36 of 42 water samples. A total of 43 NTM species were detected in 35 (83%) water samples. The most common species was <i>M. chimaera</i> (n=27), followed by <i>M. chelonae</i> (n=7), <i>M. gordonae</i> (n=4), <i>M. interjectum</i> (n=4), and <i>M. mucogenicum</i> (n=1). Multiple NTM species were detected in five samples, including one with four distinct species. One specimen contained only <i>Legionella</i> spp., while two of the samples harbored two pathogens each: <i>P. aeruginosa</i> with <i>M. chimaera</i>, and <i>Legionella</i> spp. with <i>M. chelonae</i>.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The large proportion of NTM detection highlights the importance of frequent bacterial monitoring in DUWLs for enhanced water quality control, which is not commonly implemented. Further research is needed to address the clinical relevance of NTM in DUWL and to evaluate measures to improve patient safety, such as the use of various disinfectant methods to sustainably reduce NTM concentrations.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc14"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12973376/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147432297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the antibacterial effects of four essential oils on antibiotic-resistant bacteria isolated from ventilator-dependent patients.","authors":"Mohammadamin Shabani, Mohammadhassan Tajvidi-Monfared, Zahra Taheri-Kharameh, Faraz Mojab, Saeed Shams, Hassan Vahidi Emami, Iman Khahan-Yazdi","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000620","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000620","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Antibacterial resistance has become a critical global health concern. In recent years, significant efforts have been made to discover and utilize natural plant-based products as alternative antibacterial agents. This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial effects of essential oils from four medicinal plants against drug-resistant bacteria isolated from tracheal cultures of ventilator-dependent patients.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Essential oils were extracted from <i>Oliveria</i> <i>decumbens</i>, <i>Zataria</i> <i>multiflora</i>, <i>Cuminum</i> <i>cyminum</i>, and <i>Trachyspermum</i> <i>ammi</i> using a Clevenger apparatus. The antibacterial efficacy was tested against drug-resistant bacterial strains, including four strains of <i>Escherichia (E.) coli</i>, five strains of <i>Klebsiella (K.) pneumoniae</i>, and four strains of <i>Pseudomonas (P.) aeruginosa</i>, all isolated from the sputum of ventilator-dependent patients. The disk diffusion method was used to assess antibacterial activity, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method was employed to evaluate the antibacterial properties of the two most effective essential oils.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The antibiogram results demonstrated that <i>Trachyspermum ammi</i> produced the largest inhibition zones against all bacteria, followed by <i>Oliveria decumbens</i>. <i>Trachyspermum ammi</i> showed the highest antibacterial activity against <i>E. coli</i>, while <i>Oliveria decumbens</i> was most effective against <i>K. pneumoniae</i>. In MIC testing, Oliveria decumbens exhibited a stronger antibacterial effect at lower concentrations compared to <i>Trachyspermum ammi</i>.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study is the first to report the antibacterial effects of the essential oils from all four plants, particularly <i>Trachyspermum ammi</i> and <i>Oliveria decumbens</i>, against bacteria isolated from ventilator-dependent patients. Both plants show promising potential as antibacterial agents against these drug-resistant bacteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12973374/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147432242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seroprevalence of human cytomegalovirus in blood donors.","authors":"Abhishri Lakshmi Kamal Kanna, Aswin Manikandan Mathialagan, Subhashini Paari, Harish Mardawada","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000621","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000621","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Transfusions of blood are a vital component of medical treatment. On the other hand, infections linked to transfusions are possible risks. Blood collection, processing, and testing to ensure safety precautions are taken to reduce the chance of transfusion-transmitted illnesses are important.The cytomegaly virus (CMV) is transfusion-transmitted (TT) and is a major global health concern. Seropositivity rates for CMV range from 60% to 100% in the population. Among the most important infections that infect people with immunosuppression is CMV. The present study was conducted in response to the growing demand for CMV-free blood products and to determine the prevalence of CMV antibodies among consenting blood donors. In India, there is a paucity of research on this topic, and the present study is intended to help fill the resulting knowledge gap.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This prospective study was carried out in the blood bank of the Pathology Department of Sree Balaji Medical College in Chromepet, Chennai, from 2022 to 2024, after ethics approval was obtained. A total of 116 willing blood donors were chosen. The tests were performed with a chemiluminescence kit for the detection of IgG and IgM.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eighty-eight (88; 76.0%) of the 116 donors were men, and 28 (24%) were women. The blood donors' ages were distributed as follows: 1.2% >40 years of age, 4.3% were 36 to 39, 8.2% were 31 to 35, 19.1% were 26 to 30, and 34.1% were 18 to 20 years of age. Seventy-five (75) people tested positive and 41 tested negative for IgG, yielding a 64.6% total CMV prevalence rate. In accordance with the CLIA regulations, none of the 116 blood donors had CMV IgM antibody reactivity. Individuals ≥26 years showed an increased prevalence of IgG positivity. Among the IgG serology-positive individuals, the number of males who showed positivity was 68 (64.76%), whereas only 7 females (63.63%) did so. 40% of IgG serology-positive donors had a high socioeconomic status [SES], 66.3% were of middle SES, and those donors of low SES were 100% IgG serology-positive.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The prevalence points to an endemic infection, which may be related to factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status. IgM anti-CMV antibodies were absent in all donors. Therefore, because of the high cost and scarcity of IgM antibody-positive donors, immunoglobulin M anti-CMV antibody screening can be limited to high-risk recipients. Leucocyte-depleted cellular blood products and the selection of CMV-IgG and CMV-IgM-negative donors are two prophylactic approaches to lower the seroprevalence of transfusion-transmitted (TT)-CMV. Thus, our study highlights the importance of screening for CMV at blood banks, the need to assess risk factors for TT-CMV, and the need to take preventive action.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12973382/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147432314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acute mastoiditis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) producing bacteria - an atypical cause.","authors":"Aristos Aristodimou, Zacharias Raptopoulos, Georgios Georgiou, Elena Xenofontos, Loukia Dramiotou","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000619","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000619","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aim of this report is to present a rare case of acute mastoiditis caused by <i>Klebsiella (K.) pneumoniae</i> carbapenemase (KPC) producing bacteria.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The following report describes a 78-year-old immunosuppressed female who was hospitalized due to left-sided acute otitis media complicated by tympanic membrane rupture and acute mastoiditis. Fluid-discharge culture revealed KPC. The patient successfully received four weeks of conservative treatment with intravenous colistin (based on antibiotic susceptibilities).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Acute mastoiditis is a rare complication of acute otitis media, mostly seen in pediatric populations. The most frequent causative agents identified are Gram-positive cocci such as <i>Streptococcus (S.) pyogenes</i> and <i>S. pneumoniae</i>. Acute mastoiditis caused by KPC-producing bacteria has rarely been reported in medical literature, with most such infections observed following neurosurgical surgeries and/or post-trauma.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The incidence of infection by KPC is rising, especially in immunosuppressed patients and those with recent and/or prolonged hospitalizations. There are very few reports in the literature describing acute mastoiditis caused by KPC. Infection with KPC not only has a high 30-day mortality rate (up to 40%) but also poses a significant financial burden on the healthcare system.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12973384/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147432416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Surveillance of central-line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) in intensive care units of a tertiary care center in Western India.","authors":"Prachi Verma, Shilpi Gupta, Sachin Bansal, Gagan Priya Pandey","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000618","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000618","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Central-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is the most prevalent type of healthcare-associated infection (HAI). It ranks as one of the primary contributors to both morbidity and mortality in hospitals globally. The occurrence of CLABSI is influenced by a variety of risk factors. It is essential to collect precise data on the trends of incidence rates, causes, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs)in the setting to formulate empirical treatment regimens and emphasize robust infection control policy.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>To study the prevalence, etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of CLABSI in adult medical and surgical ICUs in a tertiary care private hospital in Jaipur, India.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective observational study was conducted at the medical and surgical intensive care units for adults of Mahatma Gandhi medical college and hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India from January 2023 to December 2023. The CLABSI event was identified according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) definition as part of the routine surveillance of HAIs. The incidence rates of CLABSI (per 1.000 central line days) were calculated. Identification and antibiotic susceptibility were determined using an automated blood-culture system.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During the study period, 59 patients experienced a single episode of CLABSI, with a mean prevalence rate of 15.6 per 1,000 central line days; the maximum rate was found in the neuro-ICU (21.6 per 1,000 central line days). The clinic-demographic profile showed 2.1-to-1 male:female ratio with maximum occurrence of cases in patients over 60 years of age (25/59; 42.4%). The most common site of CL insertion was the jugular vein (97%). The majority of cases (88.1%) occurred in patients with prolonged ICU stays exceeding 10 days with an overall mortality rate of 49.2% (29/59). The most common causative micro-organism was <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (17/59; 29%), followed by <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> (14/59; 24%). 83% (33/40) of Gram-negative isolates were resistant to carbapenem, an no isolates were resistant to colistin.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study revealed a disproportionately high incidence of CLABSI when compared with both developed and developing countries, with multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria being the predominant causative agents. Continuous surveillance, supported by infection control practices, e.g., hand hygiene and bundle compliance audits along with stringent antimicrobial stewardship, is vital in mitigating CLABSI.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc09"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12973380/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147432331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Virucidal efficacy of a UV-C disinfection system for semi-critical medical devices according to EN 14476.","authors":"Stefan Alexander Rudhart, Klaus Wolfgang Georg Eichhorn, Marvin Rausch, Alexander Maas, Maximilian Knof, Steffen Engelhart, Nico T Mutters, Stephan Hoch, Sebastian Strieth","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000622","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000622","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Semi-critical medical devices, such as flexible endoscopes in otorhinolaryngology (ORL), require high-level disinfection due to their contact with mucous membranes. UV-C systems offer a rapid, non-toxic alternative to traditional reprocessing. This study evaluates the virucidal efficacy of the D60 UV-C disinfection system according to EN 14476 standards.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Standardized tests were performed using frosted glass and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) carriers inoculated with four indicator viruses: murine norovirus (MNV), poliovirus type 1, adenovirus type 5, and simian virus 777 (SV40). After drying, carriers underwent a 60 second UV-C cycle in the D60 system. Viral recovery and titration followed EN 14476 protocols, with infectivity measured by TCID₅₀ assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All viruses showed significant reductions following UV-C treatment. Residual titers fell below the detection limit (3.2 lg TCID₅₀/mL), corresponding to >4.0 lg reduction across all tested surfaces and virus types. Adenovirus showed the highest reduction (>4.5 lg).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The D60 system achieved broad-spectrum virucidal efficacy within one minute, meeting EN 14476 requirements. These findings support its use for safe, rapid reprocessing of semi-critical devices in high-turnover clinical settings, with potential to improve infection control and workflow efficiency.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12973383/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147432335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Safety, cost and environmental impact of reprocessing low and moderate risk single-use medical devices: a systematic review.","authors":"Niamh McGrath, Catherine Waldron, Ailish Farragher, Áine Teahan, Leila Keshtkar, Julie Polisena, Francesco Tessarolo","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000617","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000617","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Estimate the safety, financial and environmental impacts of reprocessing low and moderate risk single-use medical devices (SuMDs).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Systematic review (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022365642) of primary studies of patients receiving reprocessed low and moderate risk SuMDs (non-critical and semi-critical medical devices a and b) versus first use of otherwise identical SuMDs. Items were sourced via database and supplemental searching. Results were reported by device risk class, included studies were quality appraised, and primary outcomes: direct patient safety; direct and indirect financial costs; environmental impacts, were Grade of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) assessed following narrative synthesis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten studies examined 10 devices across three categories of risk class I devices: external fixator devices (n=3 studies), compression sleeves (n=2), and pulse oximeters (n=1) and three categories of risk class II devices: ophthalmic devices (n=1), surgical instruments for grasping and cutting (n=1) and endoscopic and laparoscopic devices (n=5 studies, 5 devices). There were no significant differences in the odds of primary safety outcomes across the two device types contributing data. The only study contributing primary financial impact data reported no statistically significant difference in savings for new versus reprocessed devices (p=0.340). Reprocessing reduced global warming (n=2 studies) and increased human health impacts (n=1) across the four device types contributing data. The certainty of safety and cost evidence was very low.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Safety monitoring systems where SuMD reprocessing is permitted are required. Reprocessing costs should be estimated using appropriate methodologies and research is needed to ensure that life cycle assessment study designs can be better utilised to inform decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc08"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12921675/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147270859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}