"These updates aim to strengthen patient safety, create national consistency, and provide accreditation clarity."
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has updated the reprocessing section of its Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines to align with Australian Standard AS 5369, which governs the reprocessing of reusable medical devices.
Key Updates
- Introduction of a risk-based framework for reprocessing.
- Mandatory use of a washer-disinfector for pre-cleaning; manual cleaning alone is no longer sufficient unless specified by the device manufacturer.
- Clearer staff training and competency requirements.
- Defined timeframes for initial treatment: ideally within 1 hour, no later than 4 hours.
- Strengthened traceability, validation, and equipment monitoring expectations.
- Outsourcing must now be to accredited facilities, hospitals, or accredited practices.
Background
The updates aim to strengthen patient safety, create national consistency, and provide accreditation clarity. They align general practice with national safety expectations and the upcoming sixth edition of the Standards for general practices.
Impact on Practices
Practices that reprocess reusable medical devices onsite may need to:
- Review and update reprocessing workflows.
- Modify or segregate reprocessing areas.
- Invest in a washer-disinfector or additional equipment.
- Update staff training and competency documentation.
- Revise outsourcing arrangements.
Implementation
A transition period is set until 1 January 2028, giving practices time to plan and implement changes before the requirements become mandatory for accreditation. The updated guidelines are available on the RACGP website, along with an FAQ resource and video.