RUST: The Silent Threat to Infection Control

Let’s talk about rust, your silent threat to infection control. Rust can wreak havoc on hospital’s moveable medical equipment, surgical instruments and other equipment that is often wiped down with tough healthcare cleaners. The Joint Commission and Center for Medicare and Medicaid services are now on the lookout for rust in your facility, which makes it crucial to prevent and address rust on your medical surfaces.

Why rust is bad in the operating room:

• The Joint Commission and other infection control inspections now look for rust when inspecting your hospital
• Rust is a contributor to hospital-associated infections (HAIs)
• Rust on your equipment jeopardizes its integrity to work correctly and safely

The Joint Commission and Rust

According to “Environmental Infection Prevention Guide”, a guide by the Joint Commission Resources (JCR), rust was one of the top-cited deficiencies found in facilities. JCR suggests that when selecting equipment, facilities should consider if the equipment has components that may rust (IC. 02.02.01). This equipment may include the hospital’s moveable medical equipment, surgical instruments, and other hardware that has metal features. If rust is found on your equipment during your Joint Commission survey it can result in immediate remediation of the problem and potential fines.

Rust and Hospital-Associated Infections

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections individuals get while receiving health care for another condition. The focus on reducing HAI’s has led to an increase in the use of harsh chemicals, which causes corrosion. Rusty objects are a contributor to HAIs because of its irregular surfaces that are more likely to harbor dangerous bacteria. Each year, about 1 in 25 U.S. hospital patients are diagnosed with at least one infection related to hospital care alone, according to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC).

Rust on Equipment

Rust is most commonly found on your equipment closest to the floor, like your casters on your moveable medical equipment. There are high amounts of moisture from mopping and other bacteria left on the floor that latch on to vulnerable surfaces that can lead to corrosion. With the increased use of harsh chemicals to fight HAIs, equipment, like nickel-plated casters are quick to rust. Rust on casters requires maintenance, and possibly replacement casters, which costs the hospital money and time to do.

While there are a number of ways to mediate rust with certain home remedies, tools, and other rust removing products, the best action against rust is corrosion-resistant equipment.

Pedigo Products, Inc. offers an innovative solution to your infection prevention problem with rust: the co•re caster™. The co•re caster™ collection helps fight rust 24/7 with sealed wheel bearings and a non-corrosion polymer material that keeps the caster rust and maintenance free. The sealed wheel bearings keep water from entering the caster so there is no need to grease your caster to keep them working. The protective hood prevents debris from getting caught in the wheel and jamming. Pedigo’s moveable equipment now featuring the co•re caster™ so that you don’t have to worry about your products rusting.

To learn more about Pedigo solutions for healthcare, talk to your CME Account Manager or go to www.cmecorp.com.

About CME: CME Corp is a full-service healthcare equipment and turn-key logistics company providing personalized support and service.  With service centers nationwide, CME offers more than 2 million medical products from a total of over 2,000 manufacturers.  CME is a healthcare system's complete equipment solution by providing product selection, sales, warehousing, assembly, staging, direct-to-site delivery, installation, and biomedical services for all its equipment.  

About Pedigo: Pedigo Products, Inc. has been manufacturing innovative, quality stainless medical equipment in the USA for 75 years. Pedigo’s products can be found in the emergency rooms, exam rooms, operating rooms and sterile processing departments of the world’s finest medical institutions. Pedigo Products, Inc., manufacturing lifetime value for healthcare facilities nationwide.