EFHSS  European Forum for Hospital Sterile Supply
Information on this page provided with kind permission of: mhp-verlag GmbH
Address:
65183 Wiesbaden
Germany
Internet: http://www.mhp-verlag.de
Email:

mhp publishing house

mhp stands for publications in medicine, hygiene and prevention. For more than 20 years, the mhp publishing house has devoted itself to supporting developments aiming for a better standard of hygiene and infection control in hospitals and other medical facilities.

Zentralsterilisation - Central Service

Sterile supply is a crucial component of all medical services. The journal Zentralsterilisation - Central Service aims to strengthen this prominent position. It has created a forum for all those who take an active role in everyday practice or research and development in this field. The well-balanced, reader-friendly content of the journal is composed of high-level scientific articles, reports from the field, recommendations of professional associations, relevant press items and news from the industry. In addition to promoting a multidisciplinary approach, Central Service facilitates international cooperation for a uniformly high standard in sterile supply by publishing all articles in both German and English.

From the very beginning, Central Service had served as the official publication of the European Society for Hospital Sterile Supply (ESH) and will in future be the publication of the newly founded International Federation of Sterile Supply (IFSS). Furthermore, upon its foundation in 1996, the German Society for Sterile Supply (DGSV) chose Central Service as its official journal.

In the last ten years, Central Service has become an integral part of national and international reference sources for questions concerning medical, technical and economic aspects of sterile supply. In this function it has greatly contributed to quality assurance in the prevention of nosocomial infections.


Zentralsterilisation - Central Service
Issue 2/03
 
EDITORIAL
 
Small Pox, Vaccinations, Processing
 
NEWS UPDATE
 
What's New in Standardisation: Development, Validation and Routine Control of a Sterilization Process
Forum 2003 - Just what is it that we can certify?
VSZ Workshop in Ghent 6 December 2002 Devices
 
MAIN ARTICLES
 
M. Korn:
Measurement and Assessment of Hazardous Substance Load at Workplaces in Gas Sterilisation. Part B: Discontinuous measuring methods based on TRGS 402 with in situ sampling followed by laboratory analysis; potential use of continuous measuring methods
(Zentr Steril 2003; 11 (2): 111-114)
 
 

Abstract
Within the scope of the workplace analysis, the concentration of hazardous substances in the air at the workplace must be ascertained on the basis of measurements; this is generally done by resorting to control measurements. To obtain a single sample, the in situ sampling of these measurements must be carried out for at least two hours in proximity to the staff member's nose, followed by laboratory analysis. In general, indicator tubes are not suitable for conducting measurements in accordance with TRGS 402. As an alternative to control measurements, procedure- and substance-oriented (PSO) criteria can also be used or a facility for continuous monitoring can be installed. If measurement results attest to assured, long-term compliance with the workplace limit value specified for a hazardous substance governed by an MAC value, no further control measurements are required. If the average concentration measured for at least three different shifts is I = 1/2 limit value (LV), compliance with the limit value must be monitored by means of further control measurements. The interval for such control measurements will depend on the results of the previous measurement and must be specified by the measuring institute. In the case of values governed by a TRK value, repeat measurements must be carried out - albeit in the case of fully automated sterilisation with ethylene oxide (EO) there are PSO criteria - which generally mean that workplace measurements for EO can be dispensed with. The same applies in the case of fully automated sterilisation with formaldehyde (FA), as a substance governed by an MAC value.
 
 
DISCUSSION
 
U. Rosenberg:
Thermal Disinfection - The A0 Concept and the Biological Background
(Zentr Steril 2003; 11 (2): 118-120)
 
 

Abstract
This paper focuses on parametric control of thermal disinfection and on its relationship to the biology underlying the killing/inactivation of microorganisms through moist heat. The disinfection parameters (A0 values) as recommended in the standard, or their interpretation, are cortically reviewed. It would probably be advisable to replace the overkill approach, which is especially prevalent in German-speaking countries, by improved cleaning.
 
 
STERILIZATION BASICS
 
P. Hooper:
Monitoring the Washer-Disinfector
 
RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE QUALITY TASK GROUP (AK »QUALITÄT«)
 
Packaging Systems
 
EFHSS  European Forum for Hospital Sterile Supply

Developed by Baumeister Mediasoft Engineering