Assessment of Safety, Cost, and Ecological Implications of Reusing vs. Discarding Medical Equipment
In a groundbreaking study, global healthcare and patient safety nonprofit ECRI has analysed the clinical, economic, and environmental impacts of single-use versus reused or reprocessed medical devices in hospital settings.
The research, conducted by the ECRI-Penn Evidence-based Practice Center and funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), involved a systematic literature review of over 2,000 studies, primarily focused on devices used for Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs) prevention.
Clinical outcomes sometimes favored single-use disposable devices depending on the specific device, particularly for infection rates. However, the infection prevention benefit of single-use devices varies depending on the device studied.
Economic analyses gave mixed findings, though in most categories, reusable devices are less costly. Costs can vary based on factors like reuse frequency and supplier agreements.
From an environmental perspective, reused or reprocessed devices are generally preferable. Disposable devices tend to have a significantly more harmful environmental impact.
The research emphasises that these trade-offs are complex and highly dependent on local conditions, including infection rates, reprocessing methods, and operational factors in hospitals. Decision-makers are encouraged to weigh clinical safety, cost, and environmental sustainability carefully, as no one option is universally superior across all metrics.
ECRI's Director of Clinical Evidence, Evan LeGault, stated that there's no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to choosing between single-use and reusable medical devices.
ECRI is an independent, nonprofit organization with a focus on technology evaluation and safety, respected and trusted by healthcare leaders worldwide. The organization is the only one worldwide to conduct independent medical device evaluations, with labs located in North America and Asia Pacific.
The research is publicly accessible and can be downloaded at the provided link. It includes assessments on various types of scopes and surgical items, with most of the 21 device categories examined by few studies.
The study calls for further research and increased transparency from manufacturers, reprocessing companies, and healthcare institutions. Substantial gaps exist in the current evidence base for single-use versus reusable medical devices, particularly in clinical outcomes and economic costs.
For more information, contact Yvonne Rhodes at [email protected].
[1] The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) was acquired by ECRI in 2020, and The Just Culture Company in 2024. [3] ECRI is designated an Evidence-based Practice Center by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and a federally certified Patient Safety Organization by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- The healthcare and safety nonprofit ECRI, through its research, has evaluated the impacts of single-use versus reused or reprocessed medical devices in hospital settings.
- The research, involving over 2,000 studies, primarily focused on devices used for Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs) prevention.
- Clinical outcomes sometimes favor single-use disposable devices, especially for infection rates, but the benefit varies depending on the device.
- Economic analyses give mixed findings, though reusable devices are generally less costly, with costs depending on factors like reuse frequency and supplier agreements.
- From an environmental perspective, reused or reprocessed devices are more preferred due to their less harmful environmental impact compared to disposable devices.
- ECRI's Director of Clinical Evidence, Evan LeGault, stated that no one-size-fits-all solution exists when choosing between single-use and reusable medical devices.
- The study calls for further research and increased transparency from manufacturers, reprocessing companies, and healthcare institutions to fill substantial gaps in the current evidence base.
- ECRI, an independent, nonprofit organization, is respected and trusted by healthcare leaders worldwide for its focus on technology evaluation, safety, and research.
- Errors in medication practices are addressed by another ECRI-affiliated organization, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), which was acquired by ECRI in 2020.
- The research is publicly accessible and can be downloaded at the provided link, including assessments on various types of scopes, surgical items, and other medical-conditions-related devices, with most categories examined by few studies.
