SafeTag Medical Indicator User Manual
- June 17, 2024
- SAFETAG
Table of Contents
Medical Indicator
User Manual
Medical Indicator
Advancing better healthcare
Safe Tags gradually change colour from yellow to purple over a predetermined
period of time.
Meet Safe Tag.
Safe Tag is a medical indicator that simplifies the decontamination process by
changing colour over a predetermined period of time. This inventive solution
simplifies manual processes, freeing up time for healthcare workers to focus
on providing the best possible care to their patients.
Simple, safe and smart
Designed to enable better decision making within infection control and
eliminate costly errors, Safe Tag simplifies the endoscope decontamination
process, making it easier for healthcare workers to adhere to regulations and
guidelines to avoid patient infection.
Keeping infection under control.
Healthcare associated infections are growing in incidence. New infections,
including a growing number of more resistant strains of bacteria are in danger
of spreading.
During and ever since the global COVID pandemic, hospitals and medical
practices have had to intensify their infection control procedures to stave
off the risk to patients.
This increased intensity has created high stress, time stretched healthcare
workers, who although come to work to do their very best, are being hindered
by over complex admin and unreliable processes.
“Exogenous infections in endoscopy are attributed to a myriad of causes. In
general, pathogen transmission related to standard end-viewing endoscopes are
associated with a failure to follow established cleaning and
disinfection/sterilization guidelines for endoscopes, accessories, or
associated equipment or with the use of defective equipment.
” Multisocket guideline on reprocessing flexible GI endoscopes and accessories
2021.
The challenges facing endoscopy
Within endoscopy, post-procedural infections are almost 100x higher than
expected, particularly in the US where there is over 22 million endoscopy
procedures a year alone. Initially thought to equate to ~1 patient in every 1
million procedures picking up an infection, it was reported at the end of
2021 that in fact it is more likely that on average 1 patient in every
1,000-endoscopy procedure will be affected by a post-procedural infection.
Why are the rates higher than expected?
Mainly due to a breach of manufacturer reprocessing requirements, impacting
compliance, safety and workflow efficiencies.
The Safe Tag range.
To prevent the growth and spread of potentially harmful microorganisms within
the endoscope itself, regulations and guidelines exist to mitigate the risk of
biofilms growing throughout the decontamination process. Whether timings
related to precleaning, use equipment post clean or durations for which scopes
can be safely hung, Safe Tag has exactly what you need. Accurate timings in
easy-to-use formats which fit your process.
Hang Tag
Designed to integrate seamlessly with any endoscopy system, this tamper-proof,
single-use indicator can be applied directly to the umbilical cord of the
endoscope. Available in a range of timings to support point of use through to
manual cleaning steps along with the requirements post decontamination. (Eg.
recommended time between clean and next procedure or subsequent hanging in
drying cabinet.)
Tray Tag
When scopes are being transported using opaque bags or containers it is not
optimal to hang an indicator to the scope itself. Purchase and apply in
singles, doubles or quadruples Depending on the timing or hospital process,
healthcare workers can apply the appropriate format to ensure timings within
the endoscope decontamination process are adhered to.
Tracker Tag
A clear, visual indicator and peel-off label acts as a reminder of the timing
regulations associated with scope reprocessing. Using a label-in-label
approach, staff can conveniently track and document each scope while keeping
the visual timer attached to the tray or liner. Can be stuck onto Cinch Pad™
and other endoscope transport systems.
Related literature.
With over 18 industry bodies and societies in the US alone related to
gastroenterology and best practices in endoscopy, it can be hard staying
abreast of the guidance. Below are some examples of the overwhelming trend
that adhering to timings and clarity in communication when reprocessing is
vital.
“Failing to keep accurate records of the time between precleaning and manual
cleaning is not only a lapse in following reprocessing instructions but also a
patient safety issue. The drying of organic debris and bioburden, even in the
smallest amounts, can result in ineffective cleaning and disinfection of the
endoscope and encourage growth of biofilms.”
Delays in Endoscope Reprocessing… and the Biofilms Within. Olympus
Corporation of the Americas, 2018
If transit is more than 1 hour, automated AER cleaning is not valid –
biofilm will begin to develop.
Canadian medical device reprocessing, CAN/CSA, 2018.
Lapses in the reprocessing process of flexible endoscopes have been associated
with several infectious disease outbreaks.
Kenters et al. Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control (2018).
Worldwide practices on flexible endoscope reprocessing
If no timeframe is given, manual cleaning should be initiated within one hour
or as determined by the facility based on their own documented risk
assessment.
A Closer Look at ST91:2021 for Endoscope Processing, 2022
“An endoscope storage time of under 7 days had a lower bacterial
contamination rate for any pathogen compared with endoscopes with a storage
time of >7 days.
Multisocket guideline on reprocessing flexible GI endoscopes and accessories
(2021)
If more than three hours elapses between decontamination and use of an
endoscope, bacterial growth may occur; rapid delivery of endoscopes to the
point of use is required so they are not stored for longer than three hours.
Health Technical Memorandum 01-06:
Decontamination of flexible endoscopes Part C.
Department of Health (UK)
Arrange a call with a member of our team today.
Jamie Hodgson
Chief Executive Officer, Safe Tag
E:
[email protected]
T: +44 (0)1698 539 733
M: +44 (0)7498 045 458
Insignia Technologies Ltd
Bio City Scotland, Bo’ness Rd, Newhouse, Lanarkshire, ML1 5UH