Best practice guidelines for ultrasound reprocessing

Ultrasound usage in the UK has increased steadily in recent years, with diagnostic ultrasound procedures in the English NHS rising from seven million in 2013 to 8.3 million in 2017; an increase of over 17%.

While use of ultrasound in diagnostic imaging has grown, there has also been extensive growth in ultrasound-guided invasive procedures such as central and peripheral line placements, biopsies, drainages and others. Indeed the use of ultrasound has become so widespread that most hospital departments utilise ultrasound to some degree.

While ultrasound continues to bring great clinical benefit, there are also risks associated with its use. As with all reusable medical devices, there is a risk that the ultrasound transducer or associated equipment can transmit pathogens from patient to patient if proper infection control measures are not observed. Healthcare associated infections are a major issue for anyone receiving care as well as being a significant burden on the economy, with an estimated impact of £1 billion per year in England alone.

The content on this page is provided by the individuals concerned and does not represent the views or opinions of RAD Magazine.