Precautionary Practices of Healthcare Workers Who Disinfect Medical and Dental Devices Using High-Level Disinfectants

Abstract

BACKGROUNDHigh-level disinfectants (HLDs) are used throughout the healthcare industry to chemically disinfect reusable, semicritical medical and dental devices to control and prevent healthcare-associated infections among patient populations. Workers who use HLDs are at risk of exposure to these chemicals, some of which are respiratory and skin irritants and sensitizers.OBJECTIVETo evaluate exposure controls used and to better understand impediments to healthcare workers using personal protective equipment while handling HLDs.DESIGNWeb-based survey.PARTICIPANTSA targeted sample of members of professional practice organizations representing nurses, technologists/technicians, dental professionals, respiratory therapists, and others who reported handling HLDs in the previous 7 calendar days. Participating organizations invited either all or a random sample of members via email, which included a hyperlink to the survey.METHODSDescriptive analyses were conducted including simple frequencies and prevalences.RESULTSA total of 4,657 respondents completed the survey. The HLDs used most often were glutaraldehyde (59%), peracetic acid (16%), and ortho-phthalaldehyde (15%). Examples of work practices or events that could increase exposure risk included failure to wear water-resistant gowns (44%); absence of standard procedures for minimizing exposure (19%); lack of safe handling training (17%); failure to wear protective gloves (9%); and a spill/leak of HLD during handling (5%). Among all respondents, 12% reported skin contact with HLDs, and 33% of these respondents reported that they did not always wear gloves.CONCLUSIONFindings indicated that precautionary practices were not always used, underscoring the importance of improved employer and worker training and education regarding HLD hazards.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;00(0): 1–6