The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) has released new guidelines on proper infection prevention and control for ultrasound transducers.
The society's "Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control in Sonography: Reprocessing the Ultrasound Transducer," consists of recommendations on the use, handling, cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, transport, and storage of transducers used in diagnostic sonography.
The guidelines outline use cases for transducer covers and ultrasound gels. They also contain reference tables detailing how to prepare for and classify sonographic procedures and how to reprocess transducers.
An SDMS sonography disinfection and infection control task force designed the guidelines to be consistent with current regulations, standards, and best practices. They were endorsed by the SDMS, the American College of Radiology, the Australasian Sonographers Association, and Philips Ultrasound.
The SMDS also created a downloadable worksheet to accompany the guidelines. The worksheet documents best practices and can be used to educate students or for facilities to evaluate their infection control and disinfection policies.
