ECO 3 EXPERT Ultrasound Diagnostic System
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package are protected from any risk.
9.2.4.4 AIUM Outlines Cleaning the Endocavitary Transducer
Guidelines for Cleaning and Preparing Endocavitary Ultrasound Transducers between Patients
from AIUM
Approved June 4, 2003
The purpose of this document is to provide guidance regarding the cleaning and disinfection of
transvaginal and transrectal ultrasound probes.
All sterilization/disinfection represents a statistical reduction in the number of microbes present on
a surface. Meticulous cleaning of the instrument is the essential icon to an initial reduction of the
microbial/organic load by at least 99%. This cleaning is followed by a disinfecting procedure to
ensure a high degree of protection from infectious disease transmission, even if a disposable
barrier covers the instrument during use.
Medical instruments fall into different categories with respect to potential for infection transmission.
The most critical level of instruments are those that are intended to penetrate skin or mucous
membranes. These require sterilization. Less critical instruments (often called "semi-critical"
instruments) that simply come into contact with mucous membranes such as fiber optic
endoscopes require high-level disinfection rather than sterilization.
Although endocavitary ultrasound probes might be considered even less critical instruments
because they are routinely protected by single use disposable probe covers, leakage rates of
0.9% - 2% for condoms and 8%-81% for commercial probe covers have been observed in recent
studies. For maximum safety, one should therefore perform high-level disinfection of the probe
between each use and use a probe cover or condom as an aid in keeping the probe clean.
There are four generally recognized categories of disinfection and sterilization. Sterilization is the
complete elimination of all forms or microbial life including spores and viruses.
Disinfection, the selective removal of microbial life, is divided into three classes:
High-Level Disinfection - Destruction/removal of all microorganisms except bacterial spores.
Mid-Level Disinfection - Inactivation of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, bacteria, most viruses,
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