{"id":4251,"date":"2017-07-12T11:15:47","date_gmt":"2017-07-12T09:15:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web1.server250a.stx-server.de\/2017\/07\/12\/mrsa-und-die-folgen-fuer-medizinische-geraete\/"},"modified":"2020-02-25T11:32:12","modified_gmt":"2020-02-25T10:32:12","slug":"mrsa-and-its-consequences-for-medical-electric-devices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dev.web1.server250a.stx-server.de\/en\/news\/mrsa-and-its-consequences-for-medical-electric-devices\/","title":{"rendered":"MRSA and its consequences for medical electric devices"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Resistance to disinfectants<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

What means MRSA?<\/h2>\n

MRSA is the abbreviation of\u00a0M<\/b>ethicillin-R<\/b>esistant\u00a0S<\/b>taphylococcus\u00a0A<\/b>ureus. The antibiotic Methicillin and many further antibiotics are ineffective against these bacteria.
\nVery often, MRSA is used as a synonym for multi-resistant germs.
\nFor healthy people, such germs are non-hazardous most of the time, they are upon the skin and do not cause an infection. Only if these bacteria get inside the body, an infection can lead to a serious illness.
\nAccording to the current state of research, the wrong use of antibiotics supports the origin of multi-resistant germs. Hospitals are very critical sectors, where patients with a weak physical constitution get in contact to a lot of germs, which can easily enter the patients\u2019 body via open wounds.
\nMRSA germs are transmitted in three ways: human to human, object to human, and animal to human. Most often is the transmission from human to human by direct contact. Touching contaminated surfaces such as door handles, handrails, and objects cause an indirect transmission. Besides, germs stick very well to plastic materials and stainless steel.<\/p>\n

Effects on ME devices<\/h2>\n

In order to confront the spreading of germs, hospitals apply new standards on hygiene. According to relevant professional magazines like \u201eBundesgesundheitsblatt\u201c (federal health magazine) and \u201eEmpfehlungen des Robert Koch Instituts\u201c (recommendation of Robert Koch health institute), a periodic surface disinfection of all patient-near areas is demanded.\u201e (\u2026) A surface disinfection, min. once per day (wiping disinfection) of all areas near patients (bedframe, bedside table, wet area and similar) is necessary, upon demand it should be extended to include further potentially contaminated surfaces (see standards for hospital hygiene and infection preventing, Anlage 6.12 [17] \u201chome cleaning and surface disinfection\u201d). All contact surfaces of devices used by the patient (e.g. buttons of ultrasonic devices, ECG electrodes and leads) have to be wipe-disinfected with disinfectant agents of the DGHM lists directly after use and before being removed from the room. Stethoscopes, thermometers, and similar have to be used patient-related and disinfected immediately after usage. (\u2026)\u201c4<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0Hence, all surfaces of medical electric devices including accessories which have been touched by the patient or are within his reach should be cleaned.<\/p>\n

Disinfectants<\/h2>\n

Disinfectants are agents which lead to a drastic reduction of the number of germs on a surface after application. Usual reduction rates are min. 10-5.
\nThe effect against bacteria (bactericide), viruses (antiviral), fungi (fungicidal), and spores (sporocide) depends on the kind of disinfection agent and its dosage.
\nThe choice of disinfection agents does not only depend on the efficiency against certain germs. It also depends on other factors, e.g. material compatibility and skin sensitivity have to be observed.
\nThere are various chemicals which can be used for disinfection, examples:<\/p>\n