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5.1 Introduction to Safety in Reprocessing


Specific Learning Outcomes

By the end of this chapter, you should be able to

  1. Identify safety measures and standards for reprocessing
  2. Identify dress code requirements for reprocessing
  3. Describe the basics of infection prevention and control
  4. Explain the chain of transmission
  5. Describe routine practices related to infection prevention and control
  6. Identify ways to break the chain of transmission
  7. Describe routine, administrative, and engineering controls to reduce or eliminate contamination and cross-contamination

Chapter Overview

Safety is essential in both the workplace and daily life, and it is especially critical in the Medical Device Reprocessing Area (MDRA). In this environment, adhering to a strict dress code and wearing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) are key to preventing contamination and ensuring safety. Wearing PPE, such as gloves, gowns, masks, and face shields, directly protects you by safeguarding against exposure to harmful pathogens. At the same time, following the dress code, and wearing items like bouffants and booties, prevents contamination of medical devices, ensuring that they remain safe and sterile for patient use. This not only protects you, but also ensures the safety of others, particularly patients, by reducing the risk of cross-contamination. Everyone working in health care, including those in the MDRA, plays a crucial role in providing safe care by maintaining high standards of infection prevention. This includes adhering to evidence-based guidelines and staying up to date with institutional policies. Continuously updating your knowledge of safety practices and infection control is vital for reducing the spread of infection, fostering positive health promotion, and minimizing workplace injuries.

 

Attribution

Unless otherwise indicated, material on this page has been adapted from the following resource:

Hughes, M., Kenmir, A., St-Amant, O., Cosgrove, C., & Sharpe, G. (2021). Introduction to infection prevention and control practices for the interprofessional learner. eCampusOntario. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/introductiontoipcp/, licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

 

License

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Introduction to Reprocessing Copyright © 2025 by NorQuest College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.