When is a sheath not a sheath??

[Wishart, Michael]

I am perplexed by a product I have just looked at. It is a video
laryngoscope which has a sterile, disposable hard plastic cover which is
placed over a flexible fibreoptic component and then placed into the
oral cavity for tracheal intubation. Once used on a patient, the hard
plastic cover is disposed of and the manufacturer’s instructions state
the flexible fibreoptic component can be wiped over with 70% alcohol to
decontaminate it.

My understanding of the current national infection control guidelines is
that fibreoptic endoscopes which are covered by sheaths still require
high level disinfection of the non-disposable component that enters a
body cavity. The supplier debated with me that this hard plastic
disposable cover is not a sheath, as it is not likely to be perforated
during normal use. TGA must agree with them as the product is fully
approved for clinical use by TGA. Most users must agree as apparently
this product has been well accepted, mainly in emergency centres and
emergency vehicles.

This made me ask the question: what is a sheath? I do agree that the
hard plastic cover of this product does look like it would resist
perforation in normal use, but at what point does a sheath not become a
sheath? Does this mean that if an ENT endoscope manufacturer comes up
with a hard wearing disposable cover it would not be considered a sheath
for the purpose of our national infection control guidelines?

I would welcome some discussion on this topic to help settle my
perplexion.

Thanks
Michael

Michael Wishart | GPH – Infection Control Coordinator

GPH – Quality & Safety Unit (Infection Control) | Greenslopes Private
Hospital
Newdegate Street, Greenslopes QLD 4120
t: 07 3394 7919 | f: 07 3394 7985
e: WishartM@ramsayhealth.com.au | w: http://www.ramsayhealth.com.au

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[Wilson, Fiona L (Infection Control)]

Dear Michael, it sounds like a sheath to me (main definition of sheath is a protective covering) and the national guidelines do make it clear that sheaths are not a substitute for high level disinfection or sterilisation of semi-critical items (bit like gloves and hand hygiene really). I would be recommending that the scope is disinfected/sterilised between patients (whether a sheath was in place or not).
I am really not sure why sheaths are used at all – if the scopes are reprocessed between patients, why put a sheath on them?
I would be interested in what the ‘hard plastic disposable cover’ is for and why it is not considered to be a ‘sheath’.
Also – it may be approved for use by TGA but they would not be saying it was s substitute for appropriate reprocessing – just that it is approved for use to cover the scope.

Fiona Wilson
Manager, Infection Control
Western Health
email: fiona.wilson@wh.org.au

—–Original Message—–
Of Wishart, Michael

I am perplexed by a product I have just looked at. It is a video
laryngoscope which has a sterile, disposable hard plastic cover which is
placed over a flexible fibreoptic component and then placed into the
oral cavity for tracheal intubation. Once used on a patient, the hard
plastic cover is disposed of and the manufacturer’s instructions state
the flexible fibreoptic component can be wiped over with 70% alcohol to
decontaminate it.

My understanding of the current national infection control guidelines is
that fibreoptic endoscopes which are covered by sheaths still require
high level disinfection of the non-disposable component that enters a
body cavity. The supplier debated with me that this hard plastic
disposable cover is not a sheath, as it is not likely to be perforated
during normal use. TGA must agree with them as the product is fully
approved for clinical use by TGA. Most users must agree as apparently
this product has been well accepted, mainly in emergency centres and
emergency vehicles.

This made me ask the question: what is a sheath? I do agree that the
hard plastic cover of this product does look like it would resist
perforation in normal use, but at what point does a sheath not become a
sheath? Does this mean that if an ENT endoscope manufacturer comes up
with a hard wearing disposable cover it would not be considered a sheath
for the purpose of our national infection control guidelines?

I would welcome some discussion on this topic to help settle my
perplexion.

Thanks
Michael

Michael Wishart | GPH – Infection Control Coordinator

GPH – Quality & Safety Unit (Infection Control) | Greenslopes Private
Hospital
Newdegate Street, Greenslopes QLD 4120
t: 07 3394 7919 | f: 07 3394 7985
e: WishartM@ramsayhealth.com.au | w: http://www.ramsayhealth.com.au

This e-mail message and any accompanying files may contain
information that is confidential and subject to privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, and have received the e-mail
in error, you are notified that any use, dissemination,
distribution, forwarding, printing or copying of the message
and any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you have
received this e-mail message in error please immediately
advise the sender by return e-mail, or telephone 1800 243 903.
You must destroy the original transmission and its contents.
Any views expressed within this communication are those of
the individual sender, except where the sender specifically
states them to be the views of Ramsay Health Care.
This communication should not be copied or disseminated
without permission.
————————————————————————

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[Martin, Lyn]

Morning,
We send our video laryngoscope to CSSD for processing.
It is hand washed & dried, then put through the Sterrad.
Regards,
Lyn Martin.
Hillcrest Rockhampton.

—–Original Message—–

Hi Lyn,
FYI. Some discussion on the Infection Control Discussion board regarding
the use of Sheaths in ENDO.
Cheers
Kylie

Kylie Warby | Infection Control Coordinator

Medical Ward | Hillcrest Rockhampton Private Hospital
t: 07 4932 1106
e: WarbyK@ramsayhealth.com.au | w: http://www.ramsayhealth.com.au

Ramsay Health Care is an environmentally responsible corporation, please
consider the environment before printing this email.

—–Original Message—–
Behalf Of Wilson, Fiona L (Infection Control)

Dear Michael, it sounds like a sheath to me (main definition of sheath
is a protective covering) and the national guidelines do make it clear
that sheaths are not a substitute for high level disinfection or
sterilisation of semi-critical items (bit like gloves and hand hygiene
really). I would be recommending that the scope is
disinfected/sterilised between patients (whether a sheath was in place
or not).
I am really not sure why sheaths are used at all – if the scopes are
reprocessed between patients, why put a sheath on them?
I would be interested in what the ‘hard plastic disposable cover’ is for
and why it is not considered to be a ‘sheath’.
Also – it may be approved for use by TGA but they would not be saying it
was s substitute for appropriate reprocessing – just that it is
approved for use to cover the scope.

Fiona Wilson
Manager, Infection Control
Western Health
email: fiona.wilson@wh.org.au

—–Original Message—–
Of Wishart, Michael

I am perplexed by a product I have just looked at. It is a video
laryngoscope which has a sterile, disposable hard plastic cover which is
placed over a flexible fibreoptic component and then placed into the
oral cavity for tracheal intubation. Once used on a patient, the hard
plastic cover is disposed of and the manufacturer’s instructions state
the flexible fibreoptic component can be wiped over with 70% alcohol to
decontaminate it.

My understanding of the current national infection control guidelines is
that fibreoptic endoscopes which are covered by sheaths still require
high level disinfection of the non-disposable component that enters a
body cavity. The supplier debated with me that this hard plastic
disposable cover is not a sheath, as it is not likely to be perforated
during normal use. TGA must agree with them as the product is fully
approved for clinical use by TGA. Most users must agree as apparently
this product has been well accepted, mainly in emergency centres and
emergency vehicles.

This made me ask the question: what is a sheath? I do agree that the
hard plastic cover of this product does look like it would resist
perforation in normal use, but at what point does a sheath not become a
sheath? Does this mean that if an ENT endoscope manufacturer comes up
with a hard wearing disposable cover it would not be considered a sheath
for the purpose of our national infection control guidelines?

I would welcome some discussion on this topic to help settle my
perplexion.

Thanks
Michael

Michael Wishart | GPH – Infection Control Coordinator

GPH – Quality & Safety Unit (Infection Control) | Greenslopes Private
Hospital
Newdegate Street, Greenslopes QLD 4120
t: 07 3394 7919 | f: 07 3394 7985
e: WishartM@ramsayhealth.com.au | w: http://www.ramsayhealth.com.au

This e-mail message and any accompanying files may contain
information that is confidential and subject to privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, and have received the e-mail
in error, you are notified that any use, dissemination,
distribution, forwarding, printing or copying of the message
and any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you have
received this e-mail message in error please immediately
advise the sender by return e-mail, or telephone 1800 243 903.
You must destroy the original transmission and its contents.
Any views expressed within this communication are those of
the individual sender, except where the sender specifically
states them to be the views of Ramsay Health Care.
This communication should not be copied or disseminated
without permission.
————————————————————————

Messages posted to this list are solely the opinion of the authors, and
do not represent the opinion of AICA.
Archive of all messages are available at http://aicalist.org.au/archives
– registration and login required.
Replies to this message will be directed back to the list. To create a
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Messages posted to this list are solely the opinion of the authors, and do not represent the opinion of AICA.
Archive of all messages are available at http://aicalist.org.au/archives – registration and login required.
Replies to this message will be directed back to the list. To create a new message send an email to aicalist@aicalist.org.au
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