The clinical ultrasound It is one of the most used techniques within the Radiology Services and who have more contact with the patient. To date, Spain does not have its own guidelines implemented to carry out this technique, relying until now on guidelines set by the European Society of Radiology. The Spanish Society of Medical Radiology (SERAM) is considering changing this ‘status quo’ and carrying out, together with the Spanish Ultrasound Societya national document on the matter to “clarify various concepts of ultrasound in relation to securitythe hygiene and the training aspects”.
Next May 5, the World Health Organization (WHO) will celebrate the World Hand Hygiene Dayhence Eduardo Alvarezresponsible for training at SERAM, emphasizes the necessary care that the specialist has to take into account when carrying out a clinical ultrasound: “It is the reference technique in terms of hygiene and handwashing standards, in addition to the fact that the Radiology Services are very aware of the security because of the tools they use.” Furthermore, the specialist recalls that the coronavirus pandemic caused “radiologists to be even more careful and to take extreme safety measures.”
The standards used today in Spain are, as the radiologist states, to follow the guidelines of the European Society of Radiology “through good ultrasound practice guides. Within this document, there is a part aimed at hygiene, security, prevention and infections which currently applies to Spain.
| “Clinical ultrasound is the reference technique in terms of hygiene and hand washing standards” |
Currently the specialist specifies that “a hand washing for each patient, in addition to doing the same with the ultrasound tranuctor that is in contact with the person.” After reaching this point, which applies to all patients, “it is essential to clean the entire ultrasound room more thoroughly and this is done in shifts, not between patients.”
The coronavirus activated Radiology to take more precautions
In the event that there is an interventional procedure with blood or fluids, Álvarez highlights that it must be raise the level of security measures: “For this scenario, the Spanish Ultrasound Society published some guides during the coronavirus pandemic that were a reference for all professionals who perform ultrasound. In this way, the specialist and the patient are protected, preventing them from becoming infected in the Service.”
The crisis generated by the coronavirus served to make Radiology “more aware of taking certain measures that were not taken into account before.” consideration. Now, little by little all the centers are standardizing them to avoid these risks.” The doctor goes one step further and confirms that the risk of contamination in a Spanish Radiology Service that uses ultrasound “is zero. The hygiene and disinfection measures of the rooms are complied with.”
| “SERAM does have in mind preparing national guides in a field in which there are several development ideas” |
The fact that Spain does not have own guides It is not synonymous with “not taking into account safety when using ultrasound”, although “SERAM does have in mind to prepare national guides in a field in which there are several development ideas.”
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