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Good morning,
May I have some thoughts based on the legal or regulatory reason that a dedicated sling is needed for residents with MRO/ Cytotoxic in aged care facility?
Or is it sufficient enough to educate the staff to wipe the sling with disinfectant wipes before and after use?
Does the evidence shows that other nursing home have dedicated sling used for MRO and residents on cytotoxic drug?
What will be the best practice to implement for the use of sling?
A protocol was established to assign dedicated slings to residents with multi-resistant organism (MRO) infections and are on cytotoxic meds, where the use of a lifter is required. Is this a right approach??
Looking forwards to hear your thoughts.
Thank youHi Monika
In response to the cytotoxic management. Hoping some colleagues will have a go at answering the MRO for you.
The risk of cytotoxic exposure is only presented through the body substances of a person on cytotoxic medications – or the medication its-self (and meds would not be given during transfer). It is not a transmissible risk, but an exposure risk. If the person’s body substances – blood, urine, faeces, vomit are contained, (e.g. person is continent, wears incontinence aids, not vomiting, oozing wounds managed) then there is minimal risk to the sling lifter being cytotoxic contaminated and presenting risk. Any special / additional precautions outside routine reprocessing of shared equipment, would not be required.
It’s similar to cytotoxic laundry management – i.e. where there are no body substances – there is minimal risk – the laundering would be undertaken as general laundry.
In the instance that body substances did contaminate the sling it would need to be managed as cytotoxic laundering (contained in soluble laundry bag and on appropriate wash cycle) and washed ASAP. Cytotoxic exposure risks should be void post this laundering process, enabling shared reuse.
The decision to have dedicated slings for residents is ultimatley the organisations – a measure with the aim to minimise risk.
Hope that helps
Regards Carrie
Hi MoniKa,
Perhaps I can kick off and others will follow in on the conversation
Yes, establishing a protocol to assign dedicated slings to residents with MRO infections requiring lifters is a right approach, as it helps prevent the spread of multi-resistant organisms. This practice minimizes the risk of cross-contamination when transferring residents who are colonized or infected with MROs, particularly when a lifter is necessary, as it involves more contact with the resident and the equipment.
If we look at the hierarchy of control – the first is to eliminate the risk – we do this by having a dedicated sling.
Dedicated slings, along with proper cleaning and disinfection protocols for the lifter, can significantly reduce the chance of transferring MROs from one resident to another
Here is a good QLD resource – appreciate you are in NSW
Multi-resistant organisms Residential care facilities – https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/719068/mros-info-sheet-residential-care-facilities.pdf
Hi Monika,
Dedicating lifting slings to only those residents with known MROs is a great start to reducing risk. I ask the question though of those other residents requiring a sling, how can you be sure that they are not colonised with an MRO if they haven’t been tested/screened and has an appropriate OHS assessment been done to ensure the correct sling is being used Manufactures will also have care instructions for the sling which will ensure longevity and safety of the item, some may even state that the item should not be shared between residents. Another factor to be considered is the product the sling is made of, i.e is it smooth and impervious.
My advice is to look at the manufacture’s guidelines in the use and care of the item as part of any risk assessment as should be done for any care item of equipment.
