Current problems of ensuring the epidemiological safety of ultrasound diagnosis


DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/epidem.2021.11.2.75-82

Grenkova T.A., Selkova E.P., Oganesyan A.S., Mekhtiev E.R., Mitkova M.D., Mitkov V.V.

1) G.N. Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russia; 2) Russian Medical Academy of Continuing Professional Education, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia
Objective. To substantiate the need to develop a system for the epidemiological safety of ultrasound diagnosis.
Material and methods: A psychological verbal communication method was used. The survey was conducted by the Russian Association of Ultrasound Diagnosticians in Medicine (RAUDM) among 7,000 diagnostic ultrasound practitioners. A questionnaire was designed by the experts of the G.N. Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology and approved by the RAUDM Executive Committee. The investigators analyzed the results of the questionnaire survey by 869 (12.4%) ultrasound diagnosticians representing 77 administrative territories of the Russian Federation.
Results. Percutaneous and intracavitary sensors between patient uses were not disinfected in 38.7% and 16.8% of respondents, respectively. Only 50.0% of respondents were disinfected at the final stage of processing the sensors used for intraoperative studies. Non-sterile coatings for intracavitary sensors were used in 34.3% of respondents; sterile disposable coatings for sensors during intraoperative examinations were irregularly applied to 9.3% of respondents.
Conclusion. The investigators have revealed the potential risks of infection in patients during ultrasound examinations, which are associated with ultrasound diagnosticians’ lack of awareness of infection prevention and control. It is necessary to develop a system for the epidemiological safety of ultrasound examinations with the standardization of requirements for its components.

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About the Autors


Tatiana A. Grenkova, Cand. Med. Sci., Associate Professor, Department for Training of Highly Qualified Personnel; Leading Researcher, Laboratory for Diagnosis and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, G.N. Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russia; grenkova_ta@mail.ru; http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2201-1096
Professor Evgenia P. Selkova, MD, Professor, Department for Training of Highly Qualified Personnel; Principal Researcher, G.N. Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russia; selkova.e@mail.ru; http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8534-8932
Arpine S. Oganesyan, Researcher, Laboratory for Diagnosis and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, G.N. Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russia; arpinka85@mail.ru
Emil R. Mekhtiev, Junior Researcher, Laboratory for Diagnosis and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, G.N. Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russia; mehtievemil@yandex.ru
Mina D. Mitkova, Cand. Med. Sci., Associate Professor, Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, Russian Medical Academy of Continuing Professional Education, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia; mdmitkova@rasudm.org; http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3870-6522
Professor Vladimir V. Mitkov, MD, Head, Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, Russian Medical Academy of Continuing Professional Education, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia; vvmitkov@rasudm.org; http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1959-9618


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