Discussions in Infection Control

An independent site by Lawrence F Muscarella PhD -- a national authority on the causes and prevention of healthcare-associated infections and related errors.

Category: Low-Level Disinfection

Aseptic Technique Biological Indicators Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Critical Device Classifications Disease Transmission Endoscope Reprocessing Flexible "ENT" Laryngoscopes Food and Drug Administration High-Level Disinfection Hydraulic Fluid Infection Prevention Instrument Drying Intermediate-Level Disinfection Liquid Chemical Sterilization Low-Level Disinfection Noncritical Ophthalmic Instruments Patty Murray (U.S. Senator) Rigid Laryngoscopes Semicritical Devices Skin Electrodes (Reusable) Sterility Sterilization Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome

Response to the FDA’s Draft Guidance Document on the Reprocessing of Reusable Medical Devices

February 7, 2015 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

February 5, 2015 — This article presents Dr. Muscarella’s response submitted in August 2011 to the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in reply to the Agency’s request earlier that…

Hepatitis (B and C) Viruses High-Level Disinfection Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Intermediate-Level Disinfection Low-Level Disinfection Transvaginal Ultrasound Probes Ultrasound Transducers

Persistent Microbial Contamination of Vaginal Ultrasound Probes Despite Disinfection: A Brief Review

October 22, 2014 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

October 22, 2014 — The article by M’Zail et al. (2014) entitled, “Persistence of Microbial Contamination on Transvaginal Ultrasound Probes despite Low-Level Disinfection Procedure” places important and timely focus on…

Best Practices Biological Indicators Biopsy Forceps Central Sterile Processing Critical Device Classifications Endoscope Reprocessing Flexible "ENT" Laryngoscopes Hepatitis (B and C) Viruses High-Level Disinfection HIV Infection Prevention Instrument Reprocessing Intermediate-Level Disinfection Low-Level Disinfection Low-Temperature Sterilization Noncritical ortho-phthalaldehyde Prions Rigid Arthroscopes Semicritical Devices

Disinfection or Sterilization of a Contaminated Reusable Instrument?

September 4, 2013 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

Selection of the “right” sterilization or disinfection process, or technology, for reprocessing a specific type of reusable instrument may not always be straightforward. This is often because the instrument is…

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Guidance to Prevent Adverse Events, Including Mucosal Tissue Injuries, When Using Duodenoscopes with a Single-Use Endcap

August 2, 2023 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD
Adverse Event Reports Candida auris Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Duodenoscopes Endoscope Reprocessing Escherichia coli Gastroscopes MAUDE Medical Device Reports (MDRs) Risk Assessment Single-Use Disposable Devices

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January 6, 2023 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD