Single use devices – how safe are they to be reused.

SINGLE USE DEVICES – HOW SAFE ARE THEY TO BE REUSED. Single use device (SUD) or disposable device- is defined as a device that is marketed orlabelled for single patient use or single procedure use. It is not marketed or labelled with the intent of reusing the device on another patient. The labelling identifies the device as single use or disposable or does not include instructions for reprocessing. Some SUD’s are marketed and labelled as non sterile and include appropriate pre use sterilization or processing instructions to make the device patient ready.

This is not considered reprocessing. SUD is going to be the most common source of HAI in the years to come. There is going to be outbreaks of blood borne pathogens and infections with multi drug resistant bacteria. Infections with atypical mycobacterium will also need to be considered. These infections can assume alarming proportion and…