Rehab administrators answer questions regarding cleaning of desensitization items. IPRC archives information collected by the Pediatric Rehab Administrator’s ListServ as a public service to the entire Pediatric Rehabilitation Community. All information is posted in summary format and has been de-identified. Search through past queries for responses to rehabilitation related questions.

Original Questions:
For outpatients, with use of desensitizing items on UE or LE’s,  like bins of cotton, rice, beans, etc., how do you clean the items?   Do you discard the bin of materials after each patient use for Infection prevention measures?

Summary of Responses: (over 30 responses)

The responses generally revolved around 2 central practices:

1.   Most places are having the patient wash/sanitize hands or extremity prior to using the items.   Next they visually inspect the material on a consistent basis or they replace the material on a regular schedule (for example, once a week or once a month, depending on usage).   Any patient with skin issues, open wounds or demonstrating any illness (coughs, cold etc.) they do not use it.  
2.   Some places are replacing after each use or will make a separate container with material for each patient, labeled, and then discard after they finish with the patient.
3. There are some places that have discontinued using the type of materials I described totally due to the potential infection issues or recommendations from their hospital on it.