Interferential therapy machines as possible vehicles for cross-infection

Interferential therapy machines are used to apply alternating electric currents to patients for the treatment of various musculo-skeletal complaints. The potential for such machines to transfer skin microflora from one patient to another during treatment was investigated. The efficacy of the current...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of hospital infection 2000-01, Vol.44 (1), p.59-64
Main Authors: Lambert, I., Tebbs, S.E., Hill, D., Moss, H.A., Davies, A.J., Elliott, T.S.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cross infection
Cross Infection - microbiology
Cross Infection - prevention & control
Cross Infection - transmission
Disinfection - methods
Disinfection - statistics & numerical data
Electric Stimulation Therapy - instrumentation
Electric Stimulation Therapy - statistics & numerical data
Electrodes - microbiology
Epidemiology. Vaccinations
Equipment Contamination - prevention & control
Equipment Contamination - statistics & numerical data
General aspects
Humans
Infectious diseases
inferential therapy machines
interferential therapy
isopropyl alcohol
Medical sciences
Skin - microbiology
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Statistics, Nonparametric
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Summary:Interferential therapy machines are used to apply alternating electric currents to patients for the treatment of various musculo-skeletal complaints. The potential for such machines to transfer skin microflora from one patient to another during treatment was investigated. The efficacy of the current disinfection procedure of the machines was also evaluated. In both the laboratory and clinical situation, interferential treatment, (which involves the direct application of electrodes to the skin surface) resulted in the transfer of micro-organisms from the skin of one subject to another. To decrease the likelihood of transmission of micro-organisms via interferential therapy machines, it is recommended that both the suction cups and sponges are disinfected with 70% isopropyl alcohol after the treatment of each patient. The use of disposable electrodes could also be considered.
ISSN:0195-6701
1532-2939
DOI:10.1053/jhin.1999.0647