AAMI Publishes Report on Reprocessing Summit

A new report published by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) urges healthcare facilities to “take action” on improving the reprocessing of reusable medical devices.

The 40-page publication summarizes the priorities and challenges identified at a two-day AAMI and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fall summit on the issue.

“This publication captures the essence of the summit,” AAMI President Mary Logan wrote in the foreword to Priority Issues From the AAMI/FDA Medical Device Reprocessing Summit. “It will help all of us who attended to remember the priorities that we set together and see a clear path forward. It will help those who were unable to attend to understand the issues discussed and priorities set. It will also serve as inspiration for everyone to use the list of priorities and follow-up actions identified during the summit to do just that: follow up and take action.”

The report explains the seven clarion themes developed at the Oct. 11-12 summit. The clarion themes are broad goals, such as gaining a consensus on how “clean is clean” and creating standardized and clear instructions. The report also lists 10 immediate steps a facility can take to help solve the problem.

A cross section of nearly 300 stakeholders gathered at the summit—including regulators, sterilization experts, industry experts, clinicians, and sterile processing staff.

Reprocessing reusable devices such as endoscopes and forceps is a routine procedure in healthcare, but it has come under increased scrutiny in the wake of reports of patients getting sick after being exposed to contaminated devices.

Various AAMI standards committees will create an action plan to address the summit’s themes and priorities.

To read the publication, click here.

Founded in 1967, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) is a nonprofit organization representing a unique alliance of over 6,000 members from around the world united by one mission to increase the understanding and beneficial use of medical instrumentation through effective standards and educational programs, and publications.