Care equipment can be easily contaminated with blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, and infectious agents during care delivery, making it a possible source for transmission of infectious agents.

Care equipment is classified as either:

• Single-use – equipment which is used once on a single patient and then discarded. Must never be reused even on the same patient. The packaging carries the symbol below.
  • Needles and syringes are single use devices. They should never be used for more than one patient or reused to draw up additional medication.
  • Never administer medications from a single-dose vial or intravenous (IV) bag to multiple patients.
• Single patient use – equipment which can be reused on the same patient.
• Reusable invasive equipment - used once then decontaminated for example surgical instruments.
• Reusable non-invasive equipment (often referred to as shared care equipment) - reused on more than one patient following decontamination between each use, for example commode, patient transfer trolley.

Before using any sterile equipment check that:

• the packaging is intact
• there are no obvious signs of packaging contamination
• the expiry date remains valid

Decontamination of non-invasive, reusable, care equipment should be undertaken:

• as soon as practicable after use
• between use on each individual
• when visibly soiled
• after blood or body fluid contamination
• following the resolution of an outbreak
• before and after inspection, servicing or repair
• before being loaned out and following return
• before decommissioning, recycling and disposal
• at regular, pre-defined intervals as part of an equipment cleaning schedule.

A local decontamination policy should be in place and specify which staff or staff groups are responsible for cleaning non-invasive, reusable, care equipment. The policy should also outline the frequency and method of decontamination.

Detergent and disinfectant products should be prepared and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Products should be selected based on compatibility with the equipment being decontaminated, as specified by the equipment manufacturer instructions.

Following decontamination, appropriate steps, including rinsing and drying, should be taken to remove any residues from non-invasive, reusable, care equipment.

Decontaminated equipment should be stored separately from contaminated or used items to prevent recontamination. Storage of equipment should align with manufacturers instruction.

An equipment decontamination status certificate will be required if any item of equipment is being sent to a third-party, for example for inspection, servicing, or repair.

Guidance may be required prior to procuring, trialling, or lending any non-invasive, reusable, care equipment.

Resources

Further information can be found in the Safe management of non-invasive, reusable, shared care equipment literature review.

For how to decontaminate reusable non-invasive care equipment see Appendix 7.