Inappropriate use of
cleaning liquids on
electronic medical
equipment can cause
equipment fires and
other damage.

Notice Issued Regarding Use of Cleaners and Disinfectants on Medical Equipment

November 06, 2007
by Barbara Kram, Editor
FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have collaborated to develop a public health notification describing the hazards of using excess cleaning and disinfecting liquids on certain electronic medical equipment, and recommends ways to avoid these hazards.

A broad perspective on contamination drives current infection control strategies that focus on cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces that contribute to cross-transmission of infections. Contaminated surfaces can include:

* Surfaces and equipment with blood or other potentially infectious material
* Surfaces touched by gloved hands after glove contact with patients
* Surfaces touched by patients, and surfaces contacted by or in the vicinity of aerosols and spatter
* Surfaces about whose state of cleanliness the healthcare professional is uncertain

The full public health notification is available at:
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/103107-cleaners.html