AORN Journal
Volume 89, Issue 3 , Pages 489-507, March 2009

An Evidence-Based Process for Evaluating Infection Control Policies

  • Stacey S. Freeman, RN, MSN, PCNS, CNOR, MAJ, ANC, USA

      Affiliations

    • Stacey S. Freeman, RN, MSN, PCNS, CNOR, MAJ, ANC, USA is an OR/CMS head nurse, 115th Combat Support Hospital, Camp Bucca, Iraq.
    • ,
  • Gregory L. Lara, RN, MSN, PCNS, CNOR, MAJ, ANC, USA

      Affiliations

    • Gregory L. Lara, RN, MSN, PCNS, CNOR, MAJ, ANC, USA, is a deputy chief for the OR Specialist Course, Army Medical Department and School, Ft Sam Houston, TX.
    • ,
  • Monique R. Courts, RN, MSN, PCNS, CNOR, MAJ, ANC, USA

      Affiliations

    • Monique R. Courts, RN, MSN, PCNS, CNOR, MAJ, ANC, USA, is an OR head nurse, DeWitt Army Community Hospital, Ft Belvoir, VA.
    • ,
  • Linda J. Wanzer, CIV, MSN, RN, CNOR

      Affiliations

    • Linda J. Wanzer, CIV, MSN, RN, CNOR, is an assistant professor and director of the Perioperative Clinical Nurse Specialist Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD.
    • ,
  • Sandra C. Garmon Bibb, CIV, DNSc, RN

      Affiliations

    • Sandra C. Garmon Bibb, CIV, DNSc, RN, is an associate professor and chair, Department of Health Risk and Contingency Management, and research director, Perioperative Clinical Nurse Specialist Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD.

ABSTRACT 

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe evidence-based criteria for evaluating the appropriateness of policies for decontamination of noncritical equipment.

An integrated literature review, guided by the Stetler Research Utilization Model and Bibb-Wanzer Identifying, Organizing, and Synthesizing strategy, provided the framework. A confirmatory search and document review process guided identification of documents and data extraction. Data synthesis was conducted using manifest content analysis.

Five major criteria for disinfecting noncritical items were identified: use of personal protective equipment, removal of contamination, cleaning items before disinfecting, low-level disinfectant use, and following manufacturers' recommendations for disinfectants. AORN J 89 (March 2009) 489–507. © AORN, Inc, 2009.

Key words:  policies , infection control , evidence-based practice

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 Editor's note: The opinions or assertions contained in this article are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, the US Army, the Department of Defense, or the US Government.CINAHL, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, is a registered trademark of EBSCO Industries, Birmingham, AL. Google and Google Scholar are trademarks of Google, Inc.

PII: S0001-2092(08)00463-8

doi:10.1016/j.aorn.2008.07.001

AORN Journal
Volume 89, Issue 3 , Pages 489-507, March 2009

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