By - Pauline W. Fallis,

    In the previous issue of COPE National News, I talked about the risks of infections. I will now look at the safe practices that you as an electrologist should be committed to use to reduce those risks.

    This column will cover how you can assure that the client is protected by good infection prevention and control practices, in preparation for an electrolysis treatment. It will look at the instrumentation, equipment and the environment.

    In earlier columns disinfectants have been discussed. To refresh your memory, here are a few facts about types and when they are used.

Low level disinfectants: are used to remove microorganisms from work surfaces and equipment where contact with mucous membranes is not likely to occur.

Intermediate level disinfectants: are to remove microorganisms from items that touch skin or mucous membranes (semi-critical) and can not be soaked, like permanently attached needle holders.

High level disinfectants: are used to soak semi-critical items like removable plastic needle holder devices. All items should be stored dry.

The Instrumentation: As an electrologist you use several instruments that not only come in contact with the hair follicle but also the dermis. This puts the client at risk for acquiring an infection or infectious disease.

* The electrolysis needle, or needle and cap combination are available as prepackaged sterile units.

* Sterile disposable products are one use only, therefore never reuse on the same patient/client for another session or on another patient/client.

* The hypodermic needle often used to lift or remove ingrown hairs, is available also as sterile, single use items and should also be treated as such.

* The forceps used to lift and/or hold hair during the electrolysis procedure and sometimes used to remove ingrown hair, must be sterilized between patient/clients and never reused on the same patient/client unless sterile.

* On the other hand, scissors need only be intermediate level disinfected between clients, using a disinfectant like 70% alcohol.

The Equipment:

* The epilator, patient/client sponge holder cord, needle holder cord and button or knob controls that conducts the electrical current to the needle must be cleaned and wiped with a low level disinfectant after each patient/client or be covered by single use plastic film.

* The magnifying lamp including the arm holding it, glasses or microscope and light source (lamp), which is used to visualize the treatment area, should be cleaned and disinfected with a low level disinfectant after each client session.

* Needle holders come in two forms, reusable metal or plastic and single patient/client use needle with needle holder tip or cap, which has been discussed above.

* When a permanently attached metal pin device is used, it should be cleaned and wiped with an intermediate level disinfectant after each client treatment.

* When reusable screw on plastic needle holder tips are used, they must be cleaned with a pipe cleaner or tiny brush, then disinfected with a high level disinfectant like 6% hydrogen peroxide. Make sure that they are dry before storing.

Other supplies and equipment that are used in the course of an electrolysis treatment are:

* Metal or glass trays should be cleaned and disinfected with a low-level disinfectant after each client use.

* A container, with plain water or a detergent solution for soaking used instruments, must be cleaned daily and disinfected with a low-level disinfectant.

* An ultrasonic cleaning machine used to clean (not sterilize) instruments must be cleaned with a detergent daily. Fresh solutions must be placed in the container or ultra sonic cleaner daily.

* Sharps containers are mandatory for disposing of all sharps like electrolysis needles or hypodermic needles. Under no circumstances should you use regular garbage for their disposal.

The Environment:

The office environment contains furniture and fixtures that need scheduled cleaning and disinfecting.

* The electrolysis table must be cleaned and disinfected with a low-level disinfectant between clients.

* All tables used to hold materials used for a treatment must be cleaned and disinfected between clients.

* Other work surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected daily.

* The floor should be cleaned at the end of each day and any cupboards must be cleaned routinely.

* Never assume that the cleaning has been done. Unless you have done it yourself, you should have checklists to make sure that all has been done to meet these quality standards.

These are the practices you should be using before your first client walks in the door and during the day between clients. An electrologist is committed to providing clients with quality service. Using good infection prevention and control practices at all times is one of the ways to assure this.

References;

Canadian Organization of Professional Electrologists, Infection Control Statement

Health Canada, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Infection Prevention and Control Practices for Personal Services: Tattooing, Ear/Body Piercing and Electrolysis, pg 46-50, July 1999.

Fallis, P.W., Handbook on Infection Control in Office-Based health Care and Allied Services, Canadian Standards Association, 1994