An unannounced follow-up FDA inspection of University Hospital in Columbia, Mo., suggests the hospital took a number of steps to improve its infection control practices after CMS dinged it for noncompliance to infection control and housekeeping standards late last year, according to a Columbia Daily Tribune news report.
In Nov. 2010, CMS completed an inspection at University Hospital. The hospital recently made the findings from the inspection public, revealing the hospital’s noncompliance to infection control and housekeeping standards. Among CMS’ list of deficiencies, specific citations included “residue and debris on sterile instruments in sterile surgical containers.” The CMS citations were very similar to an FDA inspection that took place at the hospital in 2008. Most strikingly, the FDA citations included observations suggesting the hospital reprocessed single-use devices.
However, the FDA conducted a follow-up inspection that showed the hospital took corrective action to address the citations, even though hospital officials disagreed with many of them. Corrective actions included requiring sterile processing technicians to achieve certification; implementing a new policy on single-use devices; and replacing sterilization equipment, according to the news report.
Read the news report about infection control improvements at University Hospital.
Read other coverage about infection control practices:
– 9 Steps for a Tuberculosis Infection-Control Program
– 8 Ways to Reduce Surgical Site Infections for Total Joint Replacement Patients With Comorbidities
– Study: Number of Swipes More Important Than Disinfectant Type for Eliminating Bacteria
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