Ebola & Surgery: Why SurgiMark's Disposable Instruments are Most Effective
YAKIMA, Wash. (PRWEB) December 18, 2014 -- As the largest Ebola outbreak in history worsens, the CDC predicts a worst-case scenario of 1.4 million total cases by January 2015. As of Oct. 23, 450 healthcare workers are known to have contracted Ebola, accounting for 244 deaths. With these numbers quickly rising, the need to operate on an Ebola patient will eventually present itself, although it’s highly discouraged because of the extremely contagious nature of the disease.
Without official surgical procedures for these patients, two U.S. surgeons created their own Ebola surgery protocol, which was quickly adopted by the American College of Surgeons. It includes the following guideline for disposal of any items contaminated or suspected of being contaminated with Ebola:
• Disposal of all items must be packaged and moved in accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Hazardous Materials Regulations.
Classified as a Category A infectious substance, hospitals must consider transportation of Ebola-contaminated instruments out of bio-containment units when deciding which type of surgical supplies to use. Once a surgical tool is used in Ebola treatment, the risks of sterilizing and reusing the tool, including stubborn debris that could transmit the virus, far outweigh the perceived benefits.
Disposable Yankauer suction devices, like SurgiMark’s Via-Guard suction set, present a solution to the risk reusable devices pose. With a highly contagious and deadly infection like the Ebola virus, disposable surgical tools should be used as an additional safety precaution to protect both hospital workers and future patients.
About SurgiMark, Inc.
SurgiMark offers versatile and cost-effective surgical suction tools and suction tips. Our patented Via-Guard® suction tips provide high-quality, clog-free and dual-action Poole and tip suction in one Yankauer suction device. Our Yankauer suction tips save hospitals time and money, and provide surgical infection control. SurgiMark’s products are made in the U.S.A., and distributed nationwide.
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Brock Remy, SurgiMark, Inc., http://www.surgimark.com/, +1 (509) 965-1911 Ext: 106, [email protected]
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