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Background
Background: In 2018, our three campus health system participated in an Infection Control
Assessment and Response (ICAR) assessment. During this comprehensive assessment, a
docked glucometer was found with traces of blood. This finding prompted the system
infection preventionists (IPs) to take a closer look at the process of cleaning and
disinfecting glucometers.
Methods
Methods: After examining glucometers at each campus, the IPs found there was an opportunity
for improvement with cleaning/disinfecting. The ICAR team had recommended a “Glucometer
Safety” video which stressed changing gloves and performing hand hygiene between fingerstick
testing and cleaning/disinfecting. The IPs observed the collection process firsthand:
the staff member would perform the fingerstick and compress the finger with a piece
of gauze. This allowed the staff member's glove to become contaminated with blood.
The staff member would then hold the glucometer to disinfect but contaminated it in
the process. Blood was occasionally found on the back of the glucometer in the dock.
Results
Results: It was apparent that re-education of all registered nurses (RNs) and patient
care technicians (PCTs) was needed. The importance of preventing the spread of blood-borne
pathogens was stressed. This re-education was initially rolled out in huddles and
unit councils. It was also added to nursing orientation and annual skills fairs. Included
was the importance of changing gloves and performing hand hygiene between testing
and cleaning/disinfecting, and also the importance of examining the glucometer before
placing it back in the dock. Ongoing monitoring of the glucometer cleaning/disinfecting
process by the IPs has indicated success in the re-education.
Conclusions
Conclusions: Hospitals need to be vigilant about the potential for inadequate cleaning
and disinfecting during the use of glucometers. Contamination of gloves during the
testing process may be an unrecognized cause of glucometer contamination.
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Copyright
© 2020 Published by Elsevier Inc.
