Prevention of pathogen transmission during
Point of Care Ultrasound use
Overview
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has become a cornerstone in the diagnosis and management of almost all patients admitted to intensive care. It forms part of treatment algorithms of cardiac arrest, PE, vascular device insertion and guides hemodynamic assessment is common clinical syndromes such as sepsis and ARDS.
To achieve the full benefits in patient care that ultrasound brings to critical care, clinicians need to minimise the contamination risk from the use of probes and machines that move from patient to patient. Costs, practicality, and ICU workflows are all factors that must be considered along with microbiology for successful infection control policy.
Learning Objectives
- An overview of the ASUM/ACIPC 2017 Guidelines for Reprocessing Ultrasound Transducers?
- What are the current specifics of ultrasound practice within Intensive Care relevant to infection control?
- What are the administrative, financial and practical implementations that need to be considered?
- Discuss the recommendations from the USIG.
