About This Course
This course describes best practices for the safe use of glutaraldehyde in healthcare facilities. Glutaraldehyde is widely used as a cold sterilant to disinfect a variety of heat-sensitive instruments, such as endoscopes, bronchoscopes, and dialysis equipment. In addition, healthcare employees may be exposed to glutaraldehyde in its use as a hardener in X-ray developing and as a tissue fixative in histology and pathology laboratories.
Glutaraldehyde’s properties as a chemical sterilant were initially recognized in the early 1960s, as the healthcare industry searched for a safer alternative to formaldehyde, which is regulated by OSHA as a carcinogen. Since its introduction as a disinfectant and sterilant, glutaraldehyde has been linked with a variety of health effects, ranging from mild to severe, including asthma, breathing difficulties, respiratory irritation, and skin rashes.
The purpose of this course is to provide information that can be used by healthcare professionals. Employers and employees need to understand and control exposures to glutaraldehyde. Alternatives to glutaraldehyde are also addressed to ensure a safer working environment while maintaining effective sterilization and disinfection practices.
What You'll Learn
Engineering controls, work practices, and facility design considerations that will help reduce employee exposure to glutaraldehyde.
Recommendations for personal protective equipment, employee training, exposure monitoring, disposal practices, and spill and cleanup procedures are included in this course.
Who This Course Is For
Health care employees using glutaraldehyde, laboratory technicians, infection control staff, and healthcare facility managers and safety personnel.
