Update on Alcohol-Based Surgical Prep Solutions

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Update on Alcohol-Based Surgical Prep Solutions

PA PSRS Patient Saf Advis 2005 Sep;2(3):20.

This article updates the June 2005 PA-PSRS Patient Safety Advisory article titled “Risk of Fire from Alcohol-Based Solutions,”¹ in which we reported on the hazards of fire from mis-use of alcohol-based liquid germicides during surgical procedures and on the controversy over the use of flammable liquid germicides during electrosurgical or electrocautery procedures.

The controversy existed because of interpretations by several government public safety organizations such as the State of Nebraska (state fire marshals, government health and human services departments) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, of inconsistencies in the 2005 National Fire Protection Association Standards for Health Care Facilities (NFPA 99) between the permitted and restricted use of flammable aerosol and liquid germicides, respectively, in anesthetizing locations during electrosurgical or electrocautery procedures.

Since publication of our June article, the NFPA has issued a Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA 05-2) to NFPA 99 standard section 13.4.1.2.2² on germicides which became effective August 18, 2005. This amendment now permits the use of flammable liquid germicides in anesthetizing locations during electrosurgical, electrocautery, and laser procedures provided specific fire prevention precautions are followed. The proposed revised language of NFPA section 13.4.1.2.2 on germicides can be obtained at NFPA’s web site at http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/TIA99-05-2.pdf.

Notes

Patient Safety Authority (PSA). Patient Safety Advisory. Risk of Fire from Alcohol-Based Solutions [online]. 2005 Jun [cited 2005 Aug 31]. Available from the internet at http://www.psa.state.pa.us/psa/lib/psa/advisories/june_2005_advisory_v2_n2.pdf.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard for Health Care Facilities. NFPA 99. Quincy, (MA):2005.

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Update on Alcohol-Based Surgical Prep Solutions
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	THE PENNSYLVANIA PATIENT SAFETY AUTHORITY AND ITS CONTRACTORS
	The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority is an independent state agency created by Act 13 of 2002, the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (“Mcare”) Act. Consistent with Act 13, ECRI Institute, as contractor for the Authority, is issuing this publication to advise medical facilities of immediate changes that can be instituted to reduce Serious Events and Incidents. For more information about the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, see the Authority’s Web site at www.patientsafetyauthority.org .
	ECRI Institute, a nonprofit organization, dedicates itself to bringing the discipline of applied scientific research in healthcare to uncover the best approaches to improving patient care. As pioneers in this science for more than 40 years, ECRI Institute marries experience and independence with the objectivity of evidence-based research. More than 5,000 healthcare organizations worldwide rely on ECRI Institute’s expertise in patient safety improvement, risk and quality management, and healthcare processes, devices, procedures and drug technology.
	The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated solely to medication error prevention and safe medication use. ISMP provides recommendations for the safe use of medications to the healthcare community including healthcare professionals, government agencies, accrediting organizations, and consumers. ISMP’s efforts are built on a nonpunitive approach and systems-based solutions.