Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network deployments during the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO Western Pacific Region.

Problem: The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) has responded to more than 100 outbreaks during the past 23 years. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic presented unprecedented operational constraints that challenged GOARN's core mission to rapidly deploy technical experts from its partners to support national in-country responses to public health emergencies. This paper describes the type and duration of GOARN deployments to and within the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Western Pacific Region during the COVID-19 pandemic. Context: Despite strict border closures and ever-changing vaccination and quarantine requirements, GOARN continued to deploy international technical assistance to strengthen COVID-19 response operations within the Region, as requested. Action: Data were analysed from the GOARN Knowledge Platform about deployments to and within the Region for responses to the COVID-19 pandemic between 1 January 2020 and 5 May 2023. Data were available about deployment duration, technical role requested, country or area, partner organization and deployed expert's demographics. Feedback from postdeployment briefings with the experts was collected and thematically analysed to determine ongoing needs and gaps to help improve deployment operations. Outcome: There were 72 experts deployed on 89 missions through GOARN to 12 countries and areas in the Region, for a total of 4558 field days, to support the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussion: The volume of requests for assistance from countries and areas in the Region to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic uncovered a deficit in human resources available for domestic response to outbreaks and the reliance on international assistance. Strengthening the in-country capacity of ready-to-respond public health emergency staff is critical to meet the needs for outbreak response. The ongoing demand for technical experts to support national responses means that these lessons may have immediate implications.

Recommendations for the Cleaning of Endocavity Ultrasound Transducers Between Patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of infection prevention and control measures for all medical procedures, including ultrasound examinations. As the use of ultrasound increases across more medical modalities, including point-of-care ultrasound, so does the risk of possible transmission from equipment to patients and patients to patients. This is particularly relevant for endocavity transducers, such as trans-vaginal, trans-rectal and trans-oesophageal, which could be contaminated with organisms from blood, mucosal, genital or rectal secretions. This article proports to update the WFUMB 2017 guidelines which focussed on the cleaning and disinfection of trans-vaginal ultrasound transducers between patients.

Communication of Diagnostic Uncertainty in Primary Care and Its Impact on Patient Experience: an Integrative Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic uncertainty is a pervasive issue in primary care where patients often present with non-specific symptoms early in the disease process. Knowledge about how clinicians communicate diagnostic uncertainty to patients is crucial to prevent associated diagnostic errors. Yet, in-depth research on the interpersonal communication of diagnostic uncertainty has been limited. We conducted an integrative systematic literature review (PROSPERO CRD42020197624, unfunded) to investigate how primary care doctors communicate diagnostic uncertainty in interactions with patients and how patients experience their care in the face of uncertainty. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Linguistics and Language Behaviour Abstracts (LLBA) from inception to December 2021 for MeSH and keywords related to 'communication', 'diagnosis', 'uncertainty' and 'primary care' environments and stakeholders (patients and doctors), and conducted additional handsearching. We included empirical primary care studies published in English on spoken communication of diagnostic uncertainty by doctors to patients. We assessed risk of bias with the QATSDD quality assessment tool and conducted thematic and content analysis to synthesise the results. RESULTS: Inclusion criteria were met for 19 out of 1281 studies. Doctors used two main communication strategies to manage diagnostic uncertainty: (1) patient-centred communication strategies (e.g. use of empathy), and (2) diagnostic reasoning strategies (e.g. excluding serious diagnoses). Linguistically, diagnostic uncertainty was either disclosed explicitly or implicitly through diverse lexical and syntactical constructions, or not communicated (omission). Patients' experiences of care in response to the diverse communicative and linguistic strategies were mixed. Patient-centred approaches were generally regarded positively by patients. DISCUSSION: Despite a small number of included studies, this is the first review to systematically catalogue the diverse communication and linguistic strategies to express diagnostic uncertainty in primary care. Health professionals should be aware of the diverse strategies used to express diagnostic uncertainty in practice and the value of combining patient-centred approaches with diagnostic reasoning strategies.

Endocavity Ultrasound Transducers: Why High-Level Disinfection Is Necessary.

As a medical imaging modality, ultrasound is used by a wide cross-section of practitioners including radiologists, obstetricians, gynecologists, gastroenterologists, urologists and cardiologists. The increasing popularity of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool is due not only to the ease of use and portability of systems, but also to the perceived safety aspect of the examination. This latter point needs to be examined. As with any reusable medical device, the ultrasound transducer, also known as a probe, could potentially be a vector for the transmission of pathogenic viruses and fungi between patients if not correctly disinfected after each use. This transmission risk is magnified for an endocavity transducer that has come in contact with the vagina, anal canal or oral cavity, as it could be contaminated with organisms transmitted by blood or mucosal, genital or rectal secretions. Based on the Spaulding system, transducers that come in contact with mucous membranes are classified as semi-critical devices that require high-level disinfection (HLD) after each patient procedure. This HLD process should eliminate all microorganisms except high numbers of bacterial endospores. Only a small number of countries worldwide have implemented transducer reprocessing guidelines that adhere to the Spaulding classification and recommend HLD for endocavity transducers. Overall, there is a lack of conformity among global health agencies regarding the use of HLD for endocavity transducers. This is primarily due to the perception that the infection transmission risk is negligible and that if an endocavity transducer has been covered with a single-use sheath for the procedure, then low-level disinfection provides sufficient protection against pathogen transmission. The objective of this study was to review the published risk of infection transmission from endocavity transducers. By highlighting the outbreaks and case reports that implicate pathogen transmission from transducers, we posit that HLD should be a global standard of practice for the reprocessing of endocavity transducers. It requires substantial time for national health administrations to develop and legislate new recommendations, and for practice changes to be accepted and implemented by healthcare providers. We recommend that Joint Commission International (JCI) and other equivalent organizations enforce the use of HLD of endocavity ultrasound transducers during their accreditation reviews.

COVID-19: Infection prevention and control guidance for all ultrasound practitioners.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), an enveloped virus, is the causative agent of the disease known as COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-2019). Proper infection prevention and control measures and good hygiene practices are essential to prevent spread of COVID-19 and protect both patients and the healthcare worker. These guidelines are relevant to all ultrasound practitioners and provides guidance on cleaning and disinfection of ultrasound equipment, the environment and PPE (protective personal equipment) during the COVID-19 outbreak in the Australasian region.

Analysis of the integrity of ultrasound probe covers used for transvaginal examinations.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound probe covers should be used for any ultrasound procedure where there is contact with body fluids or mucous membranes. The type and quality of probe covers used in clinical practice differ widely and studies in the early 1990s showed that condoms were more superior for use with transvaginal examinations than commercial probe covers. Since then, although products have changed, there have been no further studies to assess the breakage rate of different probe covers. The objectives of this study were to assess the integrity of the most commonly used probe covers for transvaginal ultrasound examinations under clinical conditions and report the breakage rate. METHODS: The study was conducted in public and private hospitals and private practices. A total of 500 covers for each of 10 brands of commercial covers and condoms (latex and latex free) were distributed to ultrasound practitioners. The transvaginal ultrasound examination practice was unchanged except that all covers were placed in a container for assessment instead of discarding post ultrasound examination. All covers were collected and subjected to a water leak test. Covers that broke upon deployment onto the ultrasound probe prior to the ultrasound examination were recorded. All covers that were broken or had microtears or leaks were recorded as well as photographed. Statistical analysis was performed along with Chi-squared analysis of the data and significance considered at P < 0.05. RESULTS: None of the commercial covers broke upon deployment onto the ultrasound probe prior to ultrasound examination. A total of 5000 probe covers were examined post-transvaginal ultrasound examinations. The breakage rate for condoms ranged from 0.4% to 13% and for commercial covers 0-5%. Statistical analysis of the data by comparison of p-values revealed that the best performing group were the commercial non-latex probe covers and worst performing group were the non-latex condoms. CONCLUSION: The breakage rates for commercial covers were not as high as previously reported and do not break upon deployment onto the ultrasound probe. This is the first comprehensive study that thoroughly evaluated the integrity of commercial covers and condoms used for transvaginal ultrasound examination in a clinical setting, with regards to brand, numbers and types of covers assessed.

Prevention of pathogen transmission during ultrasound use in the Intensive Care Unit: Recommendations from the College of Intensive Care Medicine Ultrasound Special Interest Group (USIG).

ICU ultrasonography constitutes important part of modern car patient care. Current standards and practice of infection control and prevention are inadequate. This purpose of this document is to adapt and expand the 2017 Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM) and the Australasian College for Infection Prevention Control (ACIPC) guidelines on minimum standards for reprocessing/cleaning of ultrasound transducers to the specifics of intensive care medicine and provide advice to the ICU practitioners and health care administrators. It considers the medical, administrative, financial and practical controversies surrounding implementation, and addresses emerging issues of care for patients with confirmed or suspected Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Medical Ultrasound Disinfection and Hygiene Practices: WFUMB Global Survey Results.

As ultrasound technology rapidly evolves and is used more frequently in every area of medical diagnosis and treatment, it may be overlooked as a potential vector in the transmission of a health care-associated infection. A survey on disinfection and hygiene practice in medical ultrasound was disseminated via the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) to its six member federations and associated ultrasound societies globally. One thousand twenty-nine responses were obtained across a broad range of ultrasound practitioners. A total of 76% of respondents used transducer covers every time to scan open wounds and 71% when blood and bodily fluids were present or for an interventional procedure. Approved high-level disinfectants are not always used, even when blood comes into contact with the transducer or after endocavity scans. Alcohol-based wipes were used by many respondents to clean both external transducers and endocavity transducers. Open-ended responses indicated that a large caseload hindered the time required for cleaning and that access to clear guidelines would be beneficial. Global survey results indicate that some users do not comply with disinfection practice, and there is a gap in knowledge on basic infection prevention and control education within the ultrasound unit. As the infectious status of a patient is not often disclosed prior to an ultrasound examination, training in suitable protocols for the cleaning and disinfection of ultrasound equipment is imperative to mitigate the risk of potential infection.

Potential Infection Control Risks Associated with Ultrasound Equipment - A Bacterial Perspective.

Ultrasound equipment used in trans-abdominal (TA) and trans-vaginal (TV) examination may carry bacterial contamination and pose risks to infection control during ultrasound examination. We aimed to describe the prevalence of bacterial contamination on ultrasound probes, gel, machine keyboard and cords and examined the effectiveness of low- and high-level disinfection techniques. This study was performed at a public hospital and a private practice. A total of 171 swabs were analyzed and bacterial species were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sixty percent of TA probes and 14% of TV probes had evidence of bacterial contamination after an ultrasound examination. Low-level disinfection was partially effective, but 4% of probes were still contaminated by spore-forming species. Some heated gel samples were highly contaminated with the environmental bacterium Brevundimonas aurantiaca, suggesting the gel was conducive to bacterial growth. Ultrasound machines, probe cords and gels were identified as potential sources of bacterial contamination and need to be cleaned and changed regularly to minimize risks of infection.

The ultrasound unit and infection control - Are we on the right track?

Best practice guidelines for the disinfection of ultrasound transducers and infection prevention in ultrasound departments are generally recommended by either government health groups or the ultrasound societies of individual countries. The literature shows a wide variance in not only transducer cleaning methods but basic hygiene practices in the ultrasound workplace. This paper describes results from a UK survey of disinfection of ultrasound transducers and hygiene practice in the workplace. The survey revealed that some ultrasound practitioners did not follow current guidelines with regard to the correct disinfection method of transducers, cords or ultrasound machine keyboards. Furthermore, the survey exposed the lack of training from the product manufacturers on how to use the disinfection product appropriately. These inconsistencies may be responsible for compliance issues and highlight the need for an awareness campaign and a unified approach to infection control by ultrasound practitioners.

Advancing infection control in Australasian medical ultrasound practice.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Australasia is witnessing a rapidly increasing use of diagnostic medical ultrasound in clinical practice with industry statistics giving a conservative estimate of ten million scans performed annually in Australia and New Zealand. Ultrasound practice has broadened from its traditional use in radiology, obstetrics and gynaecology, vascular and cardiology specialties to embrace emergency medicine, rheumatology, midwifery, physiotherapy, paramedics and other point of care practice. With this expansion of practice comes an increase in the potential risk for ultrasound transmitted bacterial or viral infection due to suboptimal cleaning habits of transducers, cords and keyboards. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: This study describes results of an Australasian survey on the disinfection and hygiene practice in medical ultrasound. Results highlighted a significant need for updated guidelines and education on infection prevention and control in medical ultrasound.