Infection Control: Disposables to the Rescue

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "health care-associated infections account for an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths per year" in U.S. hospitals alone.


"There is an increasing focus on the prevention of surgical site infections at Massachusetts General Hospital," says Ed Raeke, director of materials management. The hospital is in the process of switching from reusable to disposable linens for use in the O/R. Reusable linens create lint, which not only affects air circulation but can also contribute to the spread of infections, says Raeke.

Disposable linens are just one line of defense against infections. Another line is, appropriately, a catheter. According to the CDC, urinary tract infections account for 32 percent of hospital infections in the U.S. Silver coated catheters can help lower the number of infections due to silver's antimicrobial properties. Unsurprisingly they are more expensive than their standard counterparts, so Massachusetts General uses them on a case-by-case basis.

"[Physicians] are looking at cases where someone should have a silver coated catheter used in an effort to prevent infection, because they are such a compromised patient. They're trying to match up the patient with the right technology," says Raeke. "It doesn't always make sense to use these technologies that are in some cases twice the cost if they're not going to benefit the patient."

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center also uses silver coated catheters and silver dressings to reduce the rate of infections. The hospital is yet to purchase other antimicrobial treated products, such as orthopedic implants. There is not enough convincing evidence for their necessity to justify the cost, says Sheil.

"Using disposables can decrease the number of hospital infections because it eliminates any sterilization issues which might occur with reusables," says Larry Jennings, director of procurement and contracting at Saint Luke's Hospital, Penn. However, disposables are not always perfect. Manufacturers sometimes recall disposables because of problems with their own sterilization process or other issues that are discovered after distribution, says Jennings.

Nevertheless, disposables continue to be in high demand. This demand will only increase as manufacturers concentrate their focus on infection prevention.

"Healthcare associated infections are a major concern right now," says Jim Clemmer, president of medical supplies at Covidien. "Products that reduce the risk of cross-contamination in a clinical setting are extremely important for the health and safety of health care workers and patients, as well as for their ability to reduce the financial cost associated with these infections."

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