Reusable Electroencephalography Electrodes: Variability in Cleaning and Reprocessing Practices.

In this study, personnel who supervised cleaning of electroencephalography cup electrodes/lead wires completed an investigator-developed survey. Generalized mixed-effect models compared sites, including storage area within site as a random effect, to adjust for correlation between wires stored in the same location. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Of nine characteristics (transportation time, wait time pre-cleaning, storage pre-cleaning [covered or not covered], disinfection time, cleaning time, bundled cleaning [always, frequently, or occasionally], drying practice [towel or air], drying time, and storage post-cleaning [covered or not covered]), when drying time was less than or equal to 5 minutes, there was a 71% decrease in the odds of positive bacterial cultures (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.29 [0.09, 0.97], P = 0.045). Further, when cleaning time was not rushed (greater than 1 hour after removal from patient care) and multiple sets of electroencephalography cup electrodes were cleaned at once, there was a trend toward fewer positive bacterial cultures (odds ratios [95% confidence intervals] for both factors: 0.16 [0.02, 1.40], P = 0.092). Microorganisms were found on cleaned electroencephalography cup electrode lead wires in each of four hospital-based epilepsy monitoring units, despite cleaning practices. When cleaning and reprocessing practice characteristics were assessed, site variation was high, and some cleaning practices were...
Source: The Neurodiagnostic Journal - Category: Neurology Tags: Neurodiagn J Source Type: research