Infection Prevention at Point of Care Ultrasound Webinar

Prevention of Pathogen Transmission during POCUS

Dr Cartan Costello –MB BCH BAO, FCICM, FACRRM, FRACGP, BA Com, Grad Dip Crit Care Echo  
Senior Staff Specialist-, Intensive Care Wollongong Hospital and Co-Chair of General Ultrasound – Critical Care Ultrasonography Special Interest Group

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.

Complete Webinar

The College of Intensive Care Medicine, Ultrasound Special Interest Group (USIG) has published recommended guidelines to provide guidance in the prevention of pathogen transmission during ultrasound use 

In the Webinar Dr Costello explains what disinfection to apply is based on the Spaulding Classification

Under the Spaulding classification the ultrasound probe is classified into non-critical probe, semi-critical probe and critical probe, determined by how the probe comes in contact with the patient’s procedure site and the level of cross-infection risk.


Dr Costello Discusses Specific Recommendations
from the USIG

The specifics of practice within intensive care settings require further clarifications and expansion of the ASUM/ACIPC guidelines that focus on eight (8) recommendations

Spaulding Classification

Webinar Discusses the Eight (8) Specific recommendations from the USIG Guidelines

Summary of USIG recommendations

  • Ultrasound medicine is an integral part of ICU clinical practice
  • Clinicians carry joint responsibility with the organisations for minimising the risks of iatrogenic infection associated with practising ultrasound medicine
  • All clinicians using ultrasound equipment must be familiar with these policies and procedures
  • Research should be conducted on infection control associated with ultrasound practice in intensive care
  • HLD is recommended over LLD following all ultrasound-guided invasive procedures
  • Dedicated trained staff to perform disinfection

Webinar Summary of USIG Recommendations and Q&A

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