The primary goal of the CSSD Forums of South Africa is to promote and encourage the implementation of principles and practices of decontamination in the entire sterile supply cycle. The Forum will hold regular workshops to provide Sterile Supply personnel with information to assist them to perform their functions correctly. The Forum will produce regular newsletters for the interest of the members. The Forum will liaise with other related disciplines to achieve its objectives.
On 16th July 2003, the Western Cape CSSD Forum was formed. A practical demonstration on Traceability Systems was organised and 24 people from 14 hospitals attended. A committee was elected and proposed goals for the CSSD were discussed.
TOPICS DISCUSSED AT WESTERN CAPE CSSD FORUM WORKSHOPS
2003
Traceability Systems(14 hospitals, 24 attendees)
The Workflow and Principles of CSSD(15 hospitals, 21 attendees)
2004
Managing the Autoclave(14 hospitals, 47 attendees)
Human Relationships in the Group
How to Function in the Group
Effective Packing of an Autoclave
(22 hospitals, 53 attendees)
Care and Handling of Instruments(23 hospitals, 72 attendees)
Sterility Assurance(17 hospitals, 55 attendees)
Standard Procedures in the CSSD as Maintained and Regulated by the Hospital Infection Control Committee(20 hospitals, 56 attendees)
Linen in the CSSD(16 hospitals, 45 attendees)
2005
Care & Maintenance of Instruments(15 hospitals, 35 attendees)
Packing in SSD(18 hospitals, 47 attendees)
Shelf Life "Event Related vs Expiry Date"(17 hospitals, 51 attendees)
Questionnaire On Hospital Sterile Services(20 hospitals, 52 attendees)
Low Temperature Sterilization by ETO / By Hydrogen Peroxide Plasma(15 hospitals, 39 attendees)
Basic Cleaning Principles in a CSSD
Basic Principles of Disinfection(20 hospitals, 62 attendees)
Basic Infection Control in CSSD, including Standards and Precautions(12 hospitals, 29 attendees)
Latex Allergies: Protection for the worker(13 hospitals, 35 attendees)
2007 - Proposed Topics
Loan Sets: Procedure for Handling of Loan Sets
CSSD Course (2 workshops)
2008
Description
Date
Venue
Attendees
Management of Loan Sets
March 2008
Red Cross
72 Attendees
18 Hospitals
7 Trade
Hand Washing
April 2008
Red Cross
56 Attendees
15 Hospitals
2 Trade
Validation of the Cleaning Process, Cleaning Care and Maintenance of Power Tools
June 2008
Red Cross
48 Attendees
45 Hospitals
3 Trade
Legal Issues - Your rights and Responsibilities / Patient Rights
August 2008
Red Cross
62 Attendees
13 Hospitals
LIST OF WESTERN CAPE CSSD FORUM SOPS
Cleaning of Sterilizers
Retrieval of Soiled Equipment
Steam Sterilization
Cleaning
Safety Awareness
Bowie Dick testing of sterilizers (air removal test)
Preparing and removing loads from Sterilizer (loading & unloading)
Recall procedure for hospital processed / sterilized goods
Cleaning of body fluid spillage in SSD
Cleaning of power tools
WESTERN CAPE CSSD FORUM TRADE INVOLVEMENT
A number of companies are actively involved in the Western Cape CSSD Forum and assist by sponsoring the catering, assisting with administrative functions and also have representatives on the committee.
The KwaZulu Natal CSSD Forum was started in January 2005. The committee is mainly represented by the trade who dedicate their time and support to the forum. The forum aims at having one meeting every quarter and rotate the venue between private and provincial hospitals.
TOPICS DISCUSSED AT KWAZULU NATAL CSSD FORUM WORKSHOPS
The SafMed Foundation and Advanced Foundation Courses in Sterilization and Decontamination give a brief orientation to all aspects of the CSSD. As part of SafMed's contribution to the community, this course is offered free of charge to anyone that works in the sterile services environment where infection control and specifically decontamination is paramount.
The Advanced Foundation Course is aimed specifically at managers and supervisors, runs over 2 days, and has a practical component on risk assessment.
The Foundation Course is a 5-hour workshop with a short 30-minute competency exam at the end. In order to be issued with a SafMed certificate, students must attain at least 80%.
The Foundation Course will cover the following:
History of Sterile Services
Standard of Care and Legal Implications
Infection Prevention
The Decontamination and Sterilization Process
The Principles of Cleaning
Principals of Inspection of Medical Devices
Principles of Assembly and Packaging
Steam Sterilization Practice
Storage and Distribution
The Advanced Foundation Course will cover the following:
Relevant Legislation
Health and Safety assessment
Basic Microbiology
Sterilization Methods
Monitoring, Tracking and Recording
Risk Assessment
Quality Assurance
Contact Information
In order to attend these courses an application form must be submitted, which can be obtained from SafMed's co-ordinators, as follows:
South Africa is at the southern tip of the continent of Africa. With a total of 4,862 km land boundaries, South Africa shares borders with Botswana (1,840 km), Lesotho (909 km), Mozambique (491 km), Namibia (967 km), Swaziland (430 km), and Zimbabwe (225 km).
Statistics
Area: 1,219,912 km² (including Prince Edward Islands)
Languages: IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi 9.4%, English 8.2%, Setswana 8.2%, Sesotho 7.9%, Xitsonga 4.4%, other 7.2%
Religion: Zion Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Catholic 7.1%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%, other Christian 36%, Islam 1.5%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1%
Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights