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Types of Disposable Medical Devices Reused in Hospitals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

C. Glen Mayhall
C. Glen Mayhall*
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Epidemiology Unit, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
*
Hospital Epidemiology Unit, Medical College of Virginia, MCV Station, Box 19, Richmond, VA 23298
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Abstract

Rising health care costs have prompted hospitals to turn to reprocessing and reuse of disposable devices as a cost-saving measure. The safety, efficacy, and cost benefit of such a practice are largely unknown. Classification schemata are presented as a means of categorizing the reasons for reprocessing and the types of adverse effects that may result from reprocessing and reuse. The very limited literature on reuse of disposable devices is reviewed. Examples of the categories of reprocessing and adverse effects are provided from a review of the experience with reprocessing and reuse at a university medical center. With the rising pressure for containment of health care costs, it is likely that this practice will expand further. The practice of reprocessing and reuse should be subjected to scientific study.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 7 , Issue 10 , October 1986 , pp. 491 - 494
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1986

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