Factsheet
New recommendation on storage duration for sterile medical devices

Contaminated surgical instruments, deficits in the Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) or errors in the cleaning, disinfection or in the process of sterilisation of surgical materials are disastrous. Single-use instruments in sterile packaging are an alternative to reprocessing standard reusable instruments because error-prone cleaning steps are unnecessary. Correct storage of instruments must be considered. For this reason, the German Society for Sterile Supply (DGSV) has issued a “Recommendation on storage duration for sterile medical devices” (85).

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Factsheet
Prevention of surgical site infections

Every medical procedure is accompanied by a risk of infection. With a share of approximately 22 per cent, SSI are the second most common nosocomial infections in Germany, also because the number of surgical procedures continues to rise. In low- and middle-income countries, SSI is the most common form of nosocomial infection, according to the WHO. The question of whether “inpatient” or “outpatient” surgery is performed plays no role in the assessment of the SSI risk. Find more information on SSI prevention on this factsheet:

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Factsheet
hygiene in practice – review Issue 2

Since the beginning of time, people have been burdened by wounds. Today there is still much to discover in this field. From researching their healing processes, the effects of biofilm to evaluating treatment methods and developing new therapies, such as negative pressure wound therapy – we are always discovering new factors that make us better understand wounds and answer open questions.

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Factsheet
hygiene in practice – review Issue 1

Do you know how often contact occurs during the care and treatment of patients? Researchers have found out that, on average, this takes place every four seconds! That would be two contacts in the time it takes you to read this text. Every two minutes, a risk of infection arises from such contacts. On the following pages, in the cover story of our review, you can read how scientists arrived at this conclusion and how you can prevent infections with proper hand hygiene.

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Factsheet
Important questions about antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Dr Lauri Hicks from the CDC has dedicated her career to improving antibiotic use. She explains why antimicrobial stewardship is so critical.

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Factsheet
“First-person view” of pathogen transmission and hand hygiene