Safety

INFECTION CONTROL

In order to interrupt the spread of infection at the point of transmission between the source and host the MEG Lab have implemented the following policies and procedures for all staff, MEG Lab Users and subject compliance. All staff, MEG Lab users and subjects are required to comply with NIH Clinical Centers infection prevention / infection control policies and procedures, in addition to MEG Lab practices.

Hand Hygiene

Hand Hygiene is one of the most important steps in infection control in order to prevent the spread of germs. Cleaning your hands often using either soap and water or alcohol hand gel is required by the NIH Clinical Center and the MEG Lab.

In general, it is important to wash / clean your hands in each of these situations:

•After reporting to work (at the beginning of your shift);

•Before and after subject / patient contact;

•Before donning gloves;

•After removing gloves and other personal protective equipment;

•After touching objects that are likely to be contaminated with microorganisms (e.g., equipment or other items, keyboards, telephones / cell phones, doorknobs, stair banister, elevator buttons, etc.;

•Whenever hand are visibly soiled;

•After sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose;

•After contact with blood, or other potentially infectious material and equipment or articles.

In addition when in the MEG Lab, it is important to wash / clean your hands in each of these situations:

•At the beginning and end of each MEG scan;

•After a EEG/ EMG set up and clean up;

•After abrading the skin;

•After applying, handling and processing electrodes;

•When hands are likely to be contaminated with blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions;

•After handling any equipment that comes in contact with subjects with a known infection.

*If you use Alcohol Hand Gel to clean your hands, you must wash your hands with soap and water after every 10 uses of hand gel.

Studies Requiring A Blood Draw during a MEG Scan

During an MEG scan that involves drawing blood MEG infection control procedures must be followed. All nurses participating in drug studies / protocols must follow all MEG Lab Infection Prevention / Infection Control Policies and Procedures (9.00, 9.20, 9.30, 9.40) which are posted in the Policy & Procedures Manual located in the MEG lab and also on the MEG lab website (http://kurage.nimh.nih.gov/meglab).

In addition, nurses and staff must comply with all Clinical Center Infection Control Policies and Procedures.

Procedures: 1. All nurses participating in drug studies in the MEG Lab must attend MEG Lab specific Infection Control training.

2. Gloves will be used when drawing blood or whenever touching the blood draw syringe or any potentially contaminated items.

3. “Contaminated” gloves will be discarded before touching any other items in the MEG lab.

4. After gloves are removed, hands must be washed / sanitized before touching any other “clean” items including MEG equipment, telephone and any computer keyboards.

5. All surfaces (prep table, cabinets) will be wiped with Dispatch after use.

6. All MEG Lab staff will monitor participants for compliance.

• Anyone who has not received MEG lab Infection Control training should contact the MEG Lab Manager as soon as possible. Please refer to MEG P&P on Infection Control posted on the MEG Lab website: http://kurage.nimh.nih.gov/meglab/ under “User Information”.

Non-Disposable Electrodes / EEG Caps / Other Non-Disposable Equipment

All non-disposable electrodes, EEG caps and other equipment that comes in contact with skin that has been abraded will be considered “contaminated” and sent to Central Hospital Supply (CHS) for disinfection / sterilization. It is the responsibility of the MEG User to place any used / "contaminated" equipment in a hospital approved transport container, fill out the appropriate CHS form and them place the container on the CHS cart in the MEG lab. MEG staff will then transport and pickup all MEG equipment.

Each User/Research Assistant	- will be responsible for preparing the “used / contaminated” item(s) for disinfection/sterilization by CHS after each use.
Central Hospital Supply (CHS)	- will provide disinfection and sterilization services in compliance with standard operating procedures.
MEG Core Staff	- will provide each user instructions regarding preparing “used”/contaminated MEG equipment for disinfection/sterilization. -will be responsible for transporting the equipment to CHS for disinfection/sterilization.

Non-Disposable Electrodes

Silver/Silver Chloride Disc Electrodes, Gereonics Silver /Silver Chloride Electrodes, Grass Gold Electrodes and all non-disposable electrodes that comes in contact with skin that has been abraded will be considered “contaminated” and sent to Central Hospital Supply (CHS) for disinfection / sterilization.

Procedure:

1. Latex rubber gloves must be use whenever handling and/or processing electrodes used on abraded skin. For individuals sensitive to latex, nitrile rubber gloves may be used.

2. Place the disk end of the electrode in the zippered section of the 2 pocket zip lock plastic bag.

3. Place the wire end in the un-zippered pocket of the zip lock plastic bag.

4. Place the plastic bag containing the “contaminated” electrode(s) in the top tray of the three (3) piece amber OSHA approved Biohazard Container.

5. Place the lid on the Biohazard Container.

6. Place the Biohazard Container on the top shelf of the CHS Processing Cart.

7. Fill out a “Central Hospital Supply Steam/Gas Sterilization Request Form” for each container and place the form on the top of the appropriate closed Biohazard Container.

8. MEG staff will transport the Biohazard Container to CHS for disinfection/sterilization.

9. Biohazard Containers with “contaminated” equipment will be logged in and out according to CHS procedures.

Non-Disposable EEG Cap – i.e., Easy Cap

All EEG caps, including the EasyCap, that come in contact with skin that has been abraded will be considered “contaminated” and sent to Central Hospital Supply (CHS) for disinfection / sterilization.

Procedure: 1. Latex rubber gloves must be used whenever handling and/or processing an EEG Cap that has been used on abraded skin. For individuals sensitive to latex, nitrile rubber gloves may be used.

2. All electrodes will be removed from the cap and processed separately from the electrodes.

3. The cap will be placed in the top tray of the three (3) piece amber OSHA approved Biohazard Container.

4. The Biohazard Container will then be placed on the top shelf of the CHS processing cart.

5. Place the lid on the Biohazard Container.

6. The Central Hospital Supply Steam/Gas Sterilization Request form will be filled out for each container and placed on top of the appropriate closed container.

7. MEG staff will transport the Biohazard Container to CHS for disinfection / sterilization.