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Contaminants remain on reprocessed arthroscopic shaver blades, study shows
No reprocessing company had supplied a complete sample of reprocessed shaver blades without contamination or damage.
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Detectable levels of proteins and nucleic acids remain on the surfaces of reprocessed, single-use-only arthroscopic shaver blades, a study shows. Reprocessed blades also produced more irregular meniscal tissue cuts, the authors said.
"The results of this study question the effectiveness of reprocessing techniques for arthroscopic shaver blades, from both the viewpoint of contamination and the viewpoint of blade damage," the study authors said.
"The level of contamination found on the reprocessed blades may signify a risk of iatrogenic disease transmission. However, it is not known what levels of contamination act as a threshold to infection," they added.
Jonathan S. King, MD, and colleagues at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, Calif., investigated the level of residual contamination present on 27 reprocessed shaver blades. They also compared the quality of these blades as well as their cuts to those of new blades. They published their finding in the October issue of Arthroscopy.
The researchers found that 17 of the 27 (63%) reprocessed shaver blades had detectable levels of nucleic acid, ranging from 0.4 µg to 3.5 µg. Detectable levels of protein ranging from 2.43 µg to 60 µg were also found on 13 (48%) blades, according to the study.
For comparison, the researchers found 0.4 µg of nucleic acid and 0.35 µg of protein on a new shaver that had been contaminated to serve as a positive control. They also found 4.76 µg of nucleic acid and 53.8 µg of protein on a used shaver blade that had not been reprocessed. This blade also served as a positive control, according to the study.
All reprocessed shaver blades used in the study had been reported by their reprocessor as mechanically cleaned, functionally tested and sterilized, the authors noted.
Seven of the 27 reprocessed blades were smooth or without teeth and were not tested for damage or wear. Of the 20 remaining reprocessed blades, all showed some level of damage or wear, as follows:
- 10 blades showed 1% to 25% damage;
- five blades showed 26% to 50% damage;
- three blades showed 51% to 75% damage; and
- two blades showed 76% to 100% damage.
Reprocessed shaver blades also produced rougher edges when used to cut meniscal tissue from sheep compared to the smooth cuts produced by new shaver blades, according to the study.
No company had supplied a complete sample of reprocessed shaver blades without contamination or damage, the authors noted.
For more information:
- King JS, Pink MM, Jobe CM. Assessment of reprocessed arthroscopic shaver blades. Arthroscopy. 2006;22:1046-1052.