Infection Prevention is critical within Medical Imaging. High traffic areas and equipment being used on multiple people throughout the day leads to the risk of dangerous bacteria and viruses spreading.
Infection Prevention is critical within Medical Imaging. High traffic areas and equipment being used on multiple people throughout the day leads to the risk of dangerous bacteria and viruses spreading.
The Whiteley range of Infection Prevention and Control products delivers high quality pathogen killing capability, to meet the most stringent standards.
MATRIX WIPES – How to clean an ultrasound probe using Matrix Wipes
Medical Imaging and Ultrasound departments plays a crucial role in any hospital or medical centre. Not only do they conduct important imaging work, they also are on the front line of infection prevention. With patients going in and out all day, and with the same equipment being used on multiple people, there’s a serious risk of spreading dangerous bacteria and viruses.
Probes and other equipment which have come into contact with people should be thoroughly cleaned after every use.
According to the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare “It is good practice for shared clinical equipment to be cleaned with a detergent solution between patient uses, and disinfected where indicated,”.
The good news is that the transmission of infection can be prevented. To achieve this there is a need to commit to robust Infection Prevention procedures. This includes effective surface cleaning and disinfection, particularly of high-touch areas within the practice and treatment rooms. It also requires excellent hand hygiene, achievable by ensuring that hand sanitisers are easily accessible for patients in waiting rooms and staff in practice rooms.
Our broad range of products includes Matrix Wipes, a ready-to-use detergent wipe that cleans probes and removes bacterial biofilm and the viable bacteria within them.
Our Infection Prevention products include hospital grade disinfectants such as Viraclean and Instrument grade disinfectant wipes such as V-Wipes. In addition, we supply a range of premium hand hygiene products including Bactol to keep staff and patients safe.
Talk to our team of experts for advice or to trial our Infection Prevention, medical device cleaning and sterilisation products.
Whiteley offers advice, training and practical support for all of your infection prevention, medical device reprocessing, and professional cleaning needs.
You can view our product safety data sheets, technical bulletins and find out about the products from our range.
Speaker: Doctor Arthika Manoharan
Qualifications: Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Sydney
Speaker Profile:
Arthika is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The University of Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, having recently completed her PhD in collaboration with Whiteley Corporation, under the supervision of Dr. Theerthankar Das and A/Prof Jim Manos. Her research aims to tackle biofilm formation in recurrent and catheter associated urinary tract infections, using antioxidants to circumvent antibiotic resistance and decipher how these antioxidants influence host-pathogen interactions in the bladder. A microbiologist with extensive immunology experience, Arthika has worked in various projects ranging from studying CAR T cells to antibiotic resistant biofilms. With 6 publications under her belt, Arthika is an enthusiastic early career researcher interested in multidisciplinary research that combines fundamental and translational sciences. She is also an avid advocate for EMCRs in the medical sciences, having served extensively on various EMCR committees university wide and in professional bodies, including ASM.
Topic: Rethinking biofilm treatments in catheter associated urinary tract infections
Presentation Outline: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections are a major issue in hospitals and age-care facilities. Biofilm formation in catheters can often result in encrustation and occlusion of the catheter, resulting in lack of urinary drainage and severe dissemination of infection. In my research, we investigated the novel effects of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on biofilm formation and matrix disruption using an in vitro glass bladder model. Furthermore, we also investigate the influence of NAC in host pathogen interactions, to elucidate how we can influence host cellular interactions to enhance biofilm removal.
Speaker: Professor Slade Jensen
Qualifications: B.Med.Sc. (USyd) PhD. (USyd). FASM
Speaker Profile:
Slade is a Professor of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in the School of Medicine, Western Sydney University and Research Director of the Antibiotic Resistance and Mobile Elements Group, and the Limb Preservation and Wound Research Group, both of which are based at the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research. He obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Sydney focused on the role of horizontal gene transfer in bacterial evolution. His current research interests include the development of novel antimicrobials, the evolution of antibiotic resistance in hospital pathogens, such as ‘Golden Staph’, and the role of host-microbe interactions in disease progression, particularly in the context of diabetes-related foot ulcers.
Topic: Microbes, biofilms and diabetes-related foot ulcers
Presentation Outline: Slade will discuss how his team’s research has assisted in changing the understanding of the pathology of chronic ulceration in diabetic foot infections, from that of infection with planktonic bacteria to that of infection with biofilm. Due to the resistance of biofilms to antimicrobial penetration, increased emphasis is now given to removal of adequate volumes of tissue with debridement and the use of anti-biofilm compounds.
Speaker: Professor Kate Moore
Qualifications: MB BS Syd, MD Liv, FRCOG, FRANZCOG, CU
Speaker Profile:
Arthika is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Sydney, having recently completed her PhD in collaboration with Whiteley Corporation, under the supervision of Dr. Theerthankar Das and A/Prof Jim Manos. Her research aims to tackle biofilm formation in recurrent and catheter associated urinary tract infections, using antioxidants to circumvent antibiotic resistance and decipher how these antioxidants influence host-pathogen interactions in the bladder. A microbiologist with extensive immunology experience, Arthika has worked in various projects ranging from studying CAR T cells to antibiotic resistant biofilms. With 6 publications under her belt, Arthika is an enthusiastic early career researcher interested in multidisciplinary research that combines fundamental and translational sciences. She is also an avid advocate for EMCRs in the medical sciences, having served extensively on various EMCR committees university wide and in professional bodies, including ASM.
Topic: Rethinking biofilm treatments in catheter associated urinary tract infections
Presentation Outline: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections are a major issue in hospitals and age-care facilities. Biofilm formation in catheters can often result in encrustation and occlusion of the catheter, resulting in lack of urinary drainage and severe dissemination of infection. In my research, we investigated the novel effects of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on biofilm formation and matrix disruption using an in vitro glass bladder model. Furthermore, we also investigate the influence of NAC in host pathogen interactions, to elucidate how we can influence host cellular interactions to enhance biofilm removal.
Speaker: Associate Professor Greg Whiteley
Qualifications: FEHA, MASM, MSHEA, PhD, M Safety Sc, B App, Dip AICD
Speaker Profile:
Dr Greg Whiteley is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney, a Fellow in the School of Medicine at Western Sydney University and is also the Executive Chairman of Whiteley Corporation. Assoc. Prof Whiteley’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Applied Science (Hawkesbury Agricultural College), a Master of Safety Science (University of New South Wales), a Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (University of New England) and a PhD (Western Sydney University).
Dr Whiteley is a Life Fellow of Environmental Health Australia, a Member of the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America and is a Member of the Australian Society of Microbiology. He currently serves as a director of the trade association known as ACCORD Australia, and also as an expert consultant to the Infection Control Committee for the Australian Dental Association. He has previously served on HE-023 with Standards Australia.
His on-going research interests focus on biofilms found within healthcare settings, healthcare hygiene and the cleanliness of medical devices. Findings from this research team include publications outlining the extent of biofilm problems within healthcare and other settings, monitoring solutions including ATP testing, and extensive findings on the cleaning and disinfecting implications from biofilms on healthcare surfaces and reusable medical devices.
Dr Whiteley has previously been an Industry Partner for an ARC Grant in conjunction with Macquarie University, a Collaboration Partner Study Director for an iMCRC Grant with the School of Medicine at Sydney University, the Study Director of a CRC-P Grant investigating novel diagnostic and treatment options for wound care co-jointly partnering with AMP Control and the University of Newcastle and Western Sydney University.
Dr Whiteley is currently the Executive Chairman of Whiteley Corporation. He bears ultimate responsibility under Commonwealth Legislation for the Therapeutic Goods registrations and the manufacturing license of the manufacturing location in Tomago. Dr Whiteley has additionally co-authored many patents and peer reviewed publications.
Topic: Advances in Biofilm Testing
Presentation Outline: This topic will provide an overview into key lessons and research findings on dry surface and wet surface biofilms and their impact on critical healthcare departments. Published research on the presence of biofilms containing viable multi-resistant organisms and the critical role of rigorous cleaning processes to prevent hospital acquired infections (HAI’s). Understanding why cleaning protocols must adapt to account for our new logic of the role of biofilms in bacterial survival and transmission of infections.