State health department investigators found Sheridan County Memorial Hospital in Sheridan, Wyo., failed to properly sterilize reusable laryngeal mask airways for several months last year, according to a Star-Tribune report.
According to the report, an anonymous complaint led the Wyoming Department of Health to inspect Sheridan County Memorial's sterilization practices in November 2011. During its investigation, state officials discovered hospital staff members failed to include autoclaving or steam sterilization, which is recommended by the equipment manufacturer and state.
After the department disclosed the deficiency to the hospital, Sheridan County Memorial officials implemented an action plan and remedied the problem "within a matter of hours," according to the report. The action plan includes autoclaving, sterilization according to the manufacturer's recommendations and a logging system to track how many times each mask airway is used.
State health and hospital officials reportedly did not receive any reports of infections or complications stemming from the equipment.
According to the report, an anonymous complaint led the Wyoming Department of Health to inspect Sheridan County Memorial's sterilization practices in November 2011. During its investigation, state officials discovered hospital staff members failed to include autoclaving or steam sterilization, which is recommended by the equipment manufacturer and state.
After the department disclosed the deficiency to the hospital, Sheridan County Memorial officials implemented an action plan and remedied the problem "within a matter of hours," according to the report. The action plan includes autoclaving, sterilization according to the manufacturer's recommendations and a logging system to track how many times each mask airway is used.
State health and hospital officials reportedly did not receive any reports of infections or complications stemming from the equipment.
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