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    <author>
        <name>mhp_medien</name>
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    <title>Blog/Atom feed</title>
    <id>https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/?sRss=1</id>
    <updated>2026-04-21T13:03:54+02:00</updated>
    
        <entry>
            <title type="text">DGSV Congress 2022 – Jubilee Congress: Rich in content and with joy of reunion</title>
            <id>https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/dgsv-congress-2022-jubilee-congress-rich-in-content-and-with-joy-of-reunion</id>
            <link href="https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/dgsv-congress-2022-jubilee-congress-rich-in-content-and-with-joy-of-reunion"/>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[
                
                                            A reason to celebrate: for the 25th time the German Society of Sterile Supply (DGSV e.V) held its sterile supply reprocessing congress. It was fitting for this festive occasion that the conference could once again be held as a face-to-face event. After all, around 800 delegate...
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                  summarised by Stefan Dudzinski-Lange and Gudrun Westermann     
 
 A reason to celebrate: for the 25th time the German Society of Sterile Supply (DGSV e.V) held its sterile supply reprocessing congress. It was fitting for this festive occasion that the conference could once again be held as a face-to-face event. After all, around 800 delegates took advantage of this opportunity to meet again. 
 
 &amp;nbsp; A reason to celebrate: for the 25th time the German Society of Sterile Supply (DGSV e.V) held its sterile supply reprocessing congress. It was fitting for this festive occasion that the conference could once again be held as a face-to-face event. After all, around 800 delegates took advantage of this opportunity to meet again. 
 The Board of Directors paid tribute to Anke Carter, who passed away in January this year, as an outstanding personality and for her many years of dedicated work and very friendly cooperation. In order to continue the work in the spirit espoused by her, the board will offer an Anke Carter Award for particularly practice-relevant work on MD processing. Beyond this the Board not only reached a full quorum by rotational election, but even expanded to the five persons provided for in the statutes. In addition to the co-opted board member Rainer Stens and the elected members of the board Frank Deinet and Klaus Wiese, Monika Schick-Leisten and Dirk Diedrich round off the management team in 2023. 
 The jubilee congress was held at the Esperanto Hotel in Fulda and included, among other things, a gala dinner. The programme itself was superb, covering virtually all areas of medical device reprocessing. Following the welcome speech by the board, Adelheid Jones and Maik Roitsch from the DGSV e.V. outlined developments up to the present. Both highlighted how even before the foundation of the DGSV e.V., the topic of sterile supply reprocessing had acquired a professional structure. For example, the groundwork for training was laid by institutions such as the Berlin-Brandenburg Sterile Supply Working Group. Jones and Roitsch presented contemporary photos to document developments and the collaboration with the European Society for Hospital Sterile Supply e.V. (ESH). 
     With the foundation of the DGSV e.V. in 1996, driven in particular by Ilse Voigt and Toni Zanette, it was possible to channel the numerous local endeavours and initiatives. The goal was to establish an association for the promotion of research and teaching, education, training and everyday practices in the field of sterile supplies. With the establishment of the DGSV Medical Device Reprocessing Specialist (FMA-DGSV ® ), the statutory goal was consistently driven forward. Today, there are in Germany alone 51 accredited DGSV training centres. The greater emphasis of training on regulatory aspects such as on the German Medical Device Operator Regulation (MPBetreibV) or the consistent focus on achieving state recognition for the job description were hallmarks of the association’s work. Among the highlights mentioned by the speakers was the organization of the World Congress 2017 in Bonn. 
 As an up-to-date insight into the “Current status of developments as regards the job description DGSV Medical Device Reprocessing Specialist (FMA – DGSV ® ) or Medical Device Assistant”, a number of trainees together with the Board of Directors of the DGSV e.V. described the requirements   The detailed report including all lectures can downloaded   here   and will be also published in issue  5/2022 of Zentalsterilization . Stay tuned with the  STERI WORLD Newsletter. Subscribe now :&amp;nbsp;   
 &amp;nbsp; 
 
        
 
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            </content>

                            <updated>2022-10-21T10:00:00+02:00</updated>
                    </entry>

    
    
        <entry>
            <title type="text">From reprocessing to management: lots of news in Biel 18th Swiss Conference o...</title>
            <id>https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/from-reprocessing-to-management-lots-of-news-in-biel-18th-swiss-conference-on-sterilisation</id>
            <link href="https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/from-reprocessing-to-management-lots-of-news-in-biel-18th-swiss-conference-on-sterilisation"/>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[
                
                                            After a long time, sterilisation professionals were finally able to meet again at the usual place in the Congress Centre Biel for the 18th Swiss Symposium on Sterilisation. Even though attendance was lower than before, this did not diminish the joy of meeting in person again. ...
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            </summary>
            <content type="html">
                <![CDATA[
                  summarised by Stefan Dudzinski-Lange     
 
 After a long time, sterilisation professionals were finally able to meet again at the usual place in the Congress Centre Biel for the 18th Swiss Symposium on Sterilisation. Even though attendance was lower than before, this did not diminish the joy of meeting in person again. The professional programme also had a lot to offer. 
 
 &amp;nbsp; 
 Rafael Moreno from Swissmedic presented  innovations of the Swiss Good Practice for Reprocessing (GPA)  in the version published this year in two consecutive lectures. Almost all areas of the GPA have been adapted, such as traceability, resources, qualification of personnel, etc. Here, too, the focus was not on adding regulations, but rather on making them more concrete. Frédy Cavin from the Swiss Society for Sterile Supply explained how the &quot;Swiss guidelines had to change in connection with the GPA 2022&quot;. By adapting the GPA, many requirements have become more concrete. In some existing guidelines, details regarding these requirements can already be found, for example in the &quot;Checklist for inspection of reprocessing units for medical devices (RUMED)&quot;. Guidelines such as the &quot;Swiss Guideline for the Validation and Routine Monitoring of Cleaning and Disinfection Processes for Medical Devices&quot;, on the other hand, need to be revised in parts.   Reprocessing of endoscopes  was also on the agenda on the first day. With his lecture &quot;The reprocessing of flexible endoscopes in 2022&quot;, Frank Bieger from the University Hospital Zurich took a journey into the history of reprocessing and showed what development the topic has taken. But even if reprocessing is more modern in 2022, the dangers have not become less. Christoph Leutwyler, Olympus Schweiz AG, and Holger Stiegler, Medtechnic GmbH, described the development of test soils and process indicators up to flow control. In reality, however, every second flow control is manipulated (limit values extended) or switched off! This led both speakers to their conclusion that the reprocessing of endoscopes needs to be constantly optimised.  In his presentation  &quot;Mobile Sterilisation System 2020&quot; , Christophe Grange reported on how the army has modernised their mobile reprocessing unit for use in the field. The containers largely correspond to civilian requirements. Therefore, the system can in principle also be used for clinics that are going through construction or renovation measures with the RUMED, for example.  After the ordinary general meeting, the second day started with the topic of organisational development. Nicole Berset from SterInnov Sàrl highlighted  how RUMEDs can become crisis-proof  in her presentation &quot;Uncertainty management and control, on the way to resilience&quot;. There are many examples of risks in operations, for example floods or power failures. The speaker advocated managing risks through a risk analysis and a business continuity plan (BCP).  Isabelle de la Charlerie from the Association des infirmiers de stérilisation belges francophones (ASTER) provided  a glimpse into a Belgian sterile team . Her presentation dealt with the tension between managers and technicians: &quot;Sterilisation manager and sterilisation worker, two visions – one goal?&quot; In her conclusion, she addressed what competences the management and the staff need. For example, staff should be able to work under pressure, have a positive attitude and build up methodological competencies. On the other hand, demands to be met by management include responsibility, judgement and decision-making skills, acceptance of feedback and the ability to analyse.  &quot;Anticipating needs for surgical emergencies: Necessity or constraint?&quot; was the question addressed by Ingrid Jullian Desayes from the Centre Hospitalier Métropole Savoie in Chambéry, France. The core of the presentation was a plea for the  introduction of emergency surgical packs  in order to be able to react quickly in an emergency. The success of these measures depends on various criteria. For example, the preparation of a list of required emergency needs the coordination of all parties involved. Often, this step would not be taken in RUMEDs, declared Jullian Desayes.  Maria-Theresia Linner from the German Society for Sterile Supply (DGSV) explained that  germs can be transmitted primarily by people . Every person loses up to one million skin flakes every day. Her credo was therefore that good reprocessing was not possible without hygiene. This requires the control of environmental conditions in a RUMED as laid out in two DGSV recommendations. 
     With the &quot;Recommendation of the Hygiene, Construction and Technology Expert Committee&quot;, Adelheid Jones, also DGSV, showed  which requirements exist for the construction and also the conversion of a RUMED.  Since RUMEDs today are highly technical work areas, these range from detailed planning of the technical building equipment (compressed air, water treatment, steam, dosing systems, waste water, etc.) to the arrangement of the rooms (in addition to unclean/clean, also changing rooms, offices, storage, disposal, etc.).  Whether 3D-printed implants will be the standard in the future remains to be seen. However, there are already many possible applications. In the lecture &quot; Customised sterilisation of MP from the 3D printer and sterilisation in the healthcare facility &quot;, Hervé Pidoux described what experiences the CHU Besançon has made, especially with regard to sterilisation. Based on data from imaging procedures, the clinic creates custom-made products such as dental splints from the 3D printer. Compliance with the current regulations is associated with high demands. Among other things, an institutionally validated organisational unit, suitable premises, validation of the printing process and risk management are required.  Danièle Marques from the Clinique Générale Beaulieu in Geneva dealt with the  optimisation of traceability . With his presentation &quot;Defining a vision and daring to improve and restructure&quot;, he described the restructuring of data management. Whereas before the introduction of new software, the whereabouts of the sterile equipment sets were kept in Excel tables, the existing problems were significantly improved by the tool introduced and by the restructuring of the RUMED.  Next year, the SGSV will celebrate its 40th anniversary. The anniversary congress will again take place in Biel, Switzerland, from 21 to 22 June 2023.    A detailed report including all lectures will be published in issue 4/2022 of Central Service which will be released on August 25. Stay tuned with the  STERI WORLD Newsletter. Subscribe now :&amp;nbsp;   
 &amp;nbsp; 
         
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            </content>

                            <updated>2022-07-21T10:00:00+02:00</updated>
                    </entry>

    
    
        <entry>
            <title type="text">European Alliance for improvements to the MDR </title>
            <id>https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/blog/detail/sCategory/55/blogArticle/540</id>
            <link href="https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/blog/detail/sCategory/55/blogArticle/540"/>
            <summary type="html">
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                                            Due to the ongoing criticism and at the urging of leading associations such as the German Medical Devices Association (BVMed) and the German Hospital Federation (DKG), the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) is currently looking into possible...
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                 &amp;nbsp; 
 
 Due to the ongoing criticism and at the urging of leading associations such as the German Medical Devices Association (BVMed) and the German Hospital Federation (DKG), the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) is currently looking into possible improvements. 
 
 &amp;nbsp; 
 The problems with the implementation of the EU Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) have been extensively discussed at the EPSCO meeting of the health ministries of the European member states on June 14th. BVMed welcomes the fact that EU Commissioner Stella Kyriakides recognised and named the problems in the EPSCO meeting and that a total of 18 member states spoke out in favour of pragmatic solutions.  Kyriakides referred to solutions discussed: Relieve the burden on Notified Bodies; focus on MDR certifications; ease the transition for manufacturers; work with hybrid audits. The Commission would monitor MDR developments and give an update at the next meeting at the end of the year. But: Waiting is not an option, BVMed states. By the end of the transition period in May 2024, around 24,000 certificates will expire. It is necessary to act quickly and decisively. The Commission has to ensure that sufficient capacities are available on the part of the Notified Bodies. &quot;The Commission has a responsibility here – and it has to act now, not in December 2022,&quot; commented Dr Marc-Pierre Möll, Managing Director and Member of the BVMed Board. 
 &amp;nbsp; 
        
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            </content>

                            <updated>2022-06-15T06:30:00+02:00</updated>
                    </entry>

    
    
        <entry>
            <title type="text">Challenging times call for empathy!</title>
            <id>https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/challenging-times-call-for-empathy</id>
            <link href="https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/challenging-times-call-for-empathy"/>
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                                            Wayne Spencer intended to write something on leadership for the opening of the new edition of ZENTRALSTERILIZATION and the recent events in Ukraine have brought this sharply into focus. 
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                  by Wayne Spencer  
 &amp;nbsp; 
 If you are reading this page then it is obvious I have somehow got over the writer’s block that has plagued and delayed the drafting of this editorial for at least two weeks. When I began this process, Europe was a very different place than it is just a few weeks later. In my head I have mulled over the opening paragraphs of this editorial many times. Should I mention Ukraine, should I avoid it completely, should I try and keep an upbeat start to the edition and, most importantly, is it my place to say anything at all in a sterilization journal. Well on the upbeat front I guess I have already failed! But there are always glimmers of hope and cheer in the darkest of events. This week I was lifted by the response of ordinary people across Europe to help those fleeing their homes in search of a safe place to be. In my own country over 120,000 people registered to take in refugees in under two days when the government opened the webpage for people to offer places to stay. 
 I intended to write something on leadership for the opening of this edition and the recent events have brought this sharply into focus. The emergence of  Volodymyr Zelenskyy  as a household name across the world owes as much to the way he has conducted himself in the face of adversity as anything else. Here is a man who became a national leader from the most unusual of backgrounds. A comedian, actor, scriptwriter and director but not a politician. What is obvious from his recent virtual appearances in government chambers around Europe is that this is somebody who is not afraid of showing vulnerability or empathy and actually seems a better leader for it. The philanthropist and author Tony Robbins who has written extensively on leadership says that “ Empathetic leadership  is a style of leadership that focuses on identifying with others and understanding their point of view. Empathetic leaders take a genuine interest in the people around them – what makes them tick, what inspires them and the way they feel”. He goes on to say that when you understand the feelings and needs of your team, it gets easier. By letting your team know you are there for them and providing unconditional support, you’ll create an environment where they feel they can come to you with anything. 
 In the  United States of America , Catalyst, an organisation focused on helping women enter the workplace and thrive there, undertook a survey of over 900 employees working across different industries to understand the effects of empathetic leadership. Their key findings were that empathy boosts productivity and senior leader empathy is linked to reduced intent to leave. They found that employees with highly empathetic senior leaders and managers’ report being much more creative and engaged than those with less empathetic managers and leaders. The differences were startling with 61% of people with highly empathetic senior leaders reporting often or always being innovative at work compared to only 13% of people with less empathetic senior leaders. 
 I sometimes hear in hospitals that staff are not happy with a new manager because he doesn’t come from a technical background or was not of the same profession etc. “He won’t understand the way we work” or “How can they manage us if they have never packed a tray”. And most common of all is the cry from operating theatres that the SSD manager doesn’t understand the pressures during a surgical procedure! Yet if the last few weeks have proven anything, it is that good leaders can come from outside of the usual sources. The traits they have as managers and leaders are as important (and arguably more important) than being able to do the job that their staff do. 
 On a final nod to Zelenskyy, effective leadership also requires action. As he recently said “People don’t really believe in words.  Or rather, people believe in words only for a stretch of time. Then they start to look for action”. Empathy and Action, who can go wrong with that!  
   ZENTRALSTERILIZATION no 2 is here available.   &amp;nbsp;      &amp;nbsp; 
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            </content>

                            <updated>2022-05-20T06:30:00+02:00</updated>
                    </entry>

    
    
        <entry>
            <title type="text">European Alliance for improvements to the MDR </title>
            <id>https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/european-alliance-for-improvements-to-the-mdr</id>
            <link href="https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/european-alliance-for-improvements-to-the-mdr"/>
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                                            Following the Franco-German initiative of medtech associations BVMed and SNITEM to promote solutions at the European policy level to the challenges of implementing the new EU Medical Devices Regulation (MDR), some 20 other national associations of the European medtech industry...
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 Following the Franco-German initiative of medtech associations BVMed and SNITEM to promote solutions at the European policy level to the challenges of implementing the new EU Medical Devices Regulation (MDR), some 20 other national associations of the European medtech industry have joined the proposed solutions. This was reported by BVMed CEO and board member Dr. Marc-Pierre Möll on the occasion of the European MedTech Forum, which took place in Barcelona from May 3 to 5, 2022. 
 
  Among other things, the alliance calls for a rapid expansion of notified body capacities, a sensible use of existing resources through a pragmatic approach to existing products, and an extension of transition periods, as the MDR system is still not operational. The goal of the MedTech associations is for the EU health ministers to address the MDR challenges and their solutions at their next meeting.  &amp;nbsp; &quot;The main problem is the lack of resources at Notified Bodies. The average time for certification is about 18 months. With a transition period until May 2024, this means that by the third quarter of 2022 at the latest, business decisions will have to be made as to which medical devices will have to be withdrawn from the market. That&#039;s why we need solutions now,&quot; Möll said. &amp;nbsp; In a letter sent to medtech associations in early April 2022, the German Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) acknowledged that there could be problems implementing the MDR. The BMG urged medical device companies to submit MDR certification applications in a timely manner. However, from BVMed&#039;s point of view, the ministry&#039;s letter conceals the fact that the notified bodies have no free capacities. Increasingly, applications are even being rejected due to lack of capacity, or existing long-term contracts are being terminated, according to BVMed. Even if all companies were to submit their applications, the implementation of the MDR would encounter enormous difficulties.  &quot;The industry is ready, but the system is not,&quot; says BVMed CEO Möll. BVMed cites the following figures in this regard in its #MDReady information campaign, which is currently underway: &amp;nbsp; 
 
 Around 25,000 certificates will be needed by the end of the transition period in May 2024. So far, fewer than 1,000 certificates have been issued under MDR. So in the last five years, less than 5 percent of existing products have been recertified. More than 95 percent will need to be recertified in the next two years.   
 According to the Association of Notified Bodies, Team NB, 6,314 certificates can currently be issued per year. Extrapolating, therefore, only about 13,000 certificates could be issued in two years. That is about half the amount needed. If nothing is done, more than 40 percent of the inventory products would disappear from the market. This would exceed BVMed&#039;s worst fears. 
 
 &amp;nbsp; BVMed, in line with other national medtech associations, is therefore calling for:  &amp;nbsp; 
 
 More capacity: Expansion of notified bodies 
 More pragmatism: sensible and targeted use of limited resources 
 And, as a consequence, more time: postponement of the transition period 
 
    &amp;nbsp;      &amp;nbsp; 
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            </content>

                            <updated>2022-05-20T06:15:00+02:00</updated>
                    </entry>

    
    
        <entry>
            <title type="text">Medical device reprocessing at the congress of the German Society for Hospita...</title>
            <id>https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/medical-device-reprocessing-at-the-congress-of-the-german-society-for-hospital-hygiene-2022</id>
            <link href="https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/medical-device-reprocessing-at-the-congress-of-the-german-society-for-hospital-hygiene-2022"/>
            <summary type="html">
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                                            About 1000 participants met on site in Berlin at the beginning of May to discuss the latest developments in hospital hygiene. Two sessions also dealt with sterile supply: &quot;Reprocessing of medical devices&quot; and &quot;Cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation&quot;. To kick off the symposiu...
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 About 1000 participants met on site in Berlin at the beginning of May to discuss the latest developments in hospital hygiene. Two sessions also dealt with sterile supply: &quot;Reprocessing of medical devices&quot; and &quot;Cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation&quot;.To kick off the symposium Dr. Christian Jäkel reported about &quot;New legal regulations for the reprocessing of single-use medical devices in Germany and Europe&quot;. 
 
  In Germany, there are two options for reprocessing single-use devices: 
 
 The so-called CE reprocessing according to Art. 17 para. 2 of the MDR, whereby the reprocessor is responsible for all the manufacturer&#039;s obligations and, among other things, a new CE mark is applied to the product.   
 Reprocessing according to Art. 17 (3) and (4) of the MDR in or (by external reprocessors) for health care facilities in compliance with the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1207 (GS) and the KRINKO/BfArM recommendation. The details result from § 8 para. 4 to 6 of the German Medical Device Operator Ordinance (MPBetreibV). 
 
 The EU considers CE marking to be the &quot;gold standard&quot;. 
  A plea for the appreciation of employees was made by Anja Demnick from Berlin. She sees qualification as the key to greater safety for patients, users, employees&amp;nbsp; as well as the operators of the AEMP. A lack of knowledge means a lot of risks with regard to the proper reprocessing of medical devices. In practice, however, up-todate knowledge is not available if qualification measures are not repeated regularly. The reasons for this situation include cost pressure, a lack of supply or ignorance on the part of those responsible.There is also a lack of appreciation. The title of the lecture &quot;Skilled worker or basement child&quot; refers to this. Anja Demnick pointed out that usually all departments of a hospital are listed on the website, but mayn times the CSSD is not. Often the way to the CSSD is not even signposted. What is needed, therefore, is a culture of recognition as well as access to knowledge. 
  Endoscope reprocessing again one of the main topics 
 Endoscopes reprocessing is complex. Nils Andersen, endoscopy assistant, discussed in his lecture &quot;Reprocessing of reusable valves vs. use of single-use valves in endoscopy“. While the use of single-use valves is common, Andersen presented a procedure for reuse. The Endo team designed a test method to assess the reprocessing from a microbiological and economic point of view. A total of 160 suction and 160 air/water valves were sampled and 20 valves were included as a control group. The results showed that valves can be safely reprocessed in compliance with the manufacturer&#039;s instructions, so that from a hygienic point of view, disposable valves are not mandatory.    The sudden increase in detections of gram-negative rods in reprocessed endoscopes at St. Irmgardis Hospital in Meerbusch led to a search for clues, reported hygiene specialist Marc Fiedler. In his presentation he described the &quot;Influence of drying on the microbiological quality of endoscopes“. The endoscopes had to be dried with compressed air. Nevertheless a residual wetness remained. In 2019, Fiedler&#039;s team found nonfermenters in four of five colonoscopes, such as  Stenothrophomonas matophillia . Intestinal germs and pseudomonads were found in two gastroscopes. In addition, there was a detection of biofilms. Finally the drying process was identified as the reason for the contamination. By purchasing a drying cabinet germ-free status was achieved after only three hours of drying.   Dr. Markus Wehrl from the wfk – Cleaning Technology Institute presented a new flush – brush – flush (FBF) elution method for the optimised recovery of of microorganisms from channel geometries. The investigations revealed that the recovery rate (RR) for microorganisms could be increased by a factor of 25 to 700 compared to simple flushing. With the topic &quot;Rapid detection of hygiene-relevant microorganisms on the inner surfaces of of thermolabile endoscopes&quot;, Wehrl explored the question of whether there is not another method of determining microorganisms such as recovery after elution. The method group 2.0 is currently developing a rapid test for the in-situ detection of hygiene-relevant microorganisms. The method is based on short-chain nucleic acid molecules (aptamers) that have a specific binding affinity for the the hygiene-relevant microorganisms to be detected. The microorganisms become recognisable after specific fluorescence labelling of the respective detection field.  A full report will be published in issue no. 3 of  Zentralsterilization, which will be published on June 21.   &amp;nbsp;      &amp;nbsp; 
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            </content>

                            <updated>2022-05-20T06:00:00+02:00</updated>
                    </entry>

    
    
        <entry>
            <title type="text">CSC 60 years on – Annual Scientific Meeting of the Central Sterilising Club (...</title>
            <id>https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/csc-60-years-on-annual-scientific-meeting-of-the-central-sterilising-club-csc</id>
            <link href="https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/csc-60-years-on-annual-scientific-meeting-of-the-central-sterilising-club-csc"/>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[
                
                                            The Central Sterilising Club held their Annual Scientific Meeting this year in Stratford upon Avon at the beginning of April. Read a first short report here. Many delegates were again able to participate on site and in person – hopefully a start to an almost normal conference ...
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                <![CDATA[
                  by Gudrun Westermann    
 
 The CSC’s 60th Anniversary Annual Scientific Meeting was held this year as a hybrid event. At last, many delates were able to attend in person, while others tuned in to the online stream from their home computers.  
 
  After the welcome and opening speech by the chairman Jimmy Walker, Robert Spencer and Geoff Ridgway in their prologue looked back at the CSC’s eventful history, recalling a few anecdotes. The Kelsey Lecture was given by Peter Hoffman and he too looked back to the  early days of infection control,  using historical photos to show that it was indeed a different world back then. Surveillance was virtually non-existent; for example, cases of endotoxin shock caused by contaminated infusion solutions were not linked to the associated deaths.  Even today, not everything was as it should be, as Hoffman demonstrated with photos showing endoscope and incubator reprocessing results. To finish off, he explained that reprocessing specialists could contribute a lot to eliminating such deficiencies.   The thesis of this year&#039;s debate was:  hospitals lack the expertise to function safely without an independent authorising engineer  (AE(D)). Sulisti Holmes spoke in favour of the thesis. She presented the regulations and emphasized that the AE(D)s were identified there as being critical to safety. She described several cases where patients had been harmed because of reprocessing mistakes. To avoid such errors, their independent expertise was essential. Wayne Spencer, himself an AE(D), questioned the independence of the so-called independent AE(D)s. Meanwhile, many hospitals were too big – it would be cheaper for them to hire their own specialists. His concluding statement: hospitals are well able to function without an independent AE(D), but not entirely without an AE(D). The subsequent voting showed that the majority of the audience members sided with Spencer – he thus emerged victorious from this verbal exchange.  In the afternoon Andrew Thomas from Royal Orthopedic Hospital in Birmingham spoke about  fluid mechanics of ultra clean operating theatres and microbiology contamination of surgical instrument trolleys . He presented a number of interesting studies showing how the airflow within the OR changed due to various influencing factors. To sum up, Thomas explained that it was often possible to overcome issues around microbial sedimentation by making small changes to the positioning of, for example, lights or objects within the OR.  Wendy Briggs, specialist for clinical procurement and quality assurance spoke about  cooperation with clinical professional groups for procurement . This was important to procure medical devices with the characteristics actually needed. The medical devices should also be further evaluated during use to verify their suitability in everyday use.   On the second day of the meeting, Mark Garvey began with an overview of  environmental cleaning and disinfection in hospitals . In some cases, microorganisms could persist for a long time in the environment, e.g., Staphylococcus aureus for between 7 days and 12 months and Clostridium difficile spores for more than 5 months. Citing the results of various studies, Garvey stated that patients accommodated in a room where such microorganisms still persisted from the previous patient were thus are higher risk of infection. That was why environmental cleaning and disinfection were so important. However, often training to ensure that effective cleaning was implemented was overlooked. In this regard, it was also necessary to think about monitoring cleaning. 
       
 Caroline Drew from Sheffield spoke about  occupational exposure limits (OELs) to chemicals . She explained the importance of safety data sheets and risk assessments, and outlined various control measures that helped reduce exposure to, for example, process chemicals to below the occupational exposure limits. In that respect, it was best to be proactive rather than reactive, i.e., not wait for potential adverse health effects to occur. Drew concluded by outlining the approach taken using peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide as examples, with their corresponding occupational exposure limits.  David Jenkins reported on  water microbiology in relation to endoscope reprocessing . Water could sometimes be more of a hazard when trying to achieve the desired condition of the endoscopes. Not only the endoscope but also some accessories, e.g., 3-way stopcocks, could be contaminated by water.  Proper reprocessing of endoscopes was the key to avoiding patient-to-patient cross-infections, and the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria was a problem, but also just the tip of the iceberg, Jenkins said.   Mike Weinbren, NHS Assure, spoke about  hospital drains  – are they the pinnacle of human ingenuity or hotbeds of infection? He reported on the beginnings of hygiene with the findings of Semmelweis and of John Snow, who identified the links between epidemic cases in London and the location of the water pumps. Cholera thus proved to be the driver of improvements in the sewage system. Even today, infections were spread through washbasins and sewage pipes in hospitals. Drains all led to the same pipe system and, in the event of blockages or unfilled siphons, could give rise to microbial spread to other areas, even vertically across different floors. Armed with numerous photos, he demonstrated improperly installed washbasins that could lead to the spread of droplets within up to 2 m around the water tap. In many modern facilities, e.g., hospital pharmacies or isolation rooms, washbasins were therefore no longer installed at all in the actual work or patient rooms – hands were washed before entering.  Richard Bancroft spoke about the  practical use of standards in medical device decontamination/reprocessing . He pointed to the myriad of standards and other regulations in force, which now in the post-Brexit era were different in the UK from the EU. However, the UK&#039;s own medical device legislation was based on the EU&#039;s Medical Device Regulation. But the UK was also developing its own &quot;designated standards&quot;.  Bancroft described the process of developing a harmonized standard and emphasized that not all standards were harmonized. Harmonized symbols, such as labelling with &quot;MD&quot; (for medical device) helped replace text, especially in the EU with its more than 20 languages (ISO 15223).   Malcolm Thomas, Consulting Engineer, spoke about  ventilation standards for reprocessing decontamination/reprocessing facilities  and on updating the corresponding Health Technical Memorandum (HTM03-01 – Ventilation standards for decontamination facilities). Revision was a very lengthy process. HTM 03-01 (2021) consisted of two parts. Part A addressed the specifications, installation and testing of healthcare ventilation systems. It applied to all new equipment as well as to upgraded equipment. One of the aims of the revised HTM was to reduce energy consumption and underpin the government&#039;s zero-carbon policy. However, the new equipment systems needed more space which was not always available in buildings.  Gerhard Kirmse, Aesculap AG, spoke about  cleaning and detection of protein residues . Validation was intended to make the process more reliable. Kirmse highlighted that many elements had to work together for good cleaning, ranging from load assembly through the correct progression of the actual process to the stability and reproducibility of the process parameters. Protein detection on instruments harbouring everyday soils after use and then reprocessed as well as other routine checks completed the picture.  Val O’Brien, in the last presentation, explored the  outlook for reprocessing in the next 60 years . She described the challenges faced at the time she entered the reprocessing domain. There were no QM systems, textiles were still used in the trays and injection needles were reusable. Traceability was also still an alien concept – indeed, there was no need for it yet. One wondered whether these were the &quot;good old days&quot; that people always talked about. Even back then, the CSC was a great help in keeping up with best practice, O’Brien said.  There were also challenges for the future: sustainability, the green agenda, and the reduction of CO2 emissions were in the spotlight. And developments, both in technology and normative requirements, would continue. O’Brien emphasized that patient safety had to remain the top priority despite everything.  That brought to a close the 60th anniversary CSC scientific meeting. For further events please visit the  CSC website . 
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            </content>

                            <updated>2022-04-21T10:00:00+02:00</updated>
                    </entry>

    
    
        <entry>
            <title type="text">BVMed and SNITEM launch German-French initiative on MDR</title>
            <id>https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/bvmed-and-snitem-launch-german-french-initiative-on-mdr</id>
            <link href="https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/bvmed-and-snitem-launch-german-french-initiative-on-mdr"/>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[
                
                                            At a conference in Paris on March 14, 2022, the medtech associations BVMed and SNITEM launched a Franco-German initiative with representatives of the EU Commission to drive forward solutions at the European policy level to the problems encountered in implementing the new EU Me...
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            </summary>
            <content type="html">
                <![CDATA[
                 BVMed and SNITEM launch German-French initiative on MDR: &quot;We must act now&quot;. 
 &amp;nbsp; 
 
 Berlin. At a conference in Paris on March 14, 2022, the medtech associations BVMed and SNITEM launched a Franco-German initiative with representatives of the EU Commission to drive forward solutions at the European policy level to the problems encountered in implementing the new EU Medical Devices Regulation (MDR). In a joint declaration, the German Medical Technology Association (BVMed) and the French &quot;Syndicat National de l&#039;Industrie des Technologies Médicales&quot; (SNITEM) call for, among other things, a rapid expansion of the capacities of the notified bodies and a sensible use of existing resources with a pragmatic approach to existing products. The position of the two associations can be downloaded  here . 
 
 &amp;nbsp; &quot;With BVMed and SNITEM, the two most important national associations in the EU are moving forward together to untangle the MDR implementation bottleneck. This includes, among other things, postponing the MDR transition period. Otherwise, we will not be able to cope with the looming bottleneck of certificates due to the limited resources of Notified Bodies,&quot; said SNITEM CEO Eric Le Roy. &quot;The ultimate goal of the efforts must be to continuously ensure the patientcare with safe and modern medical devices. The window of opportunity for solutions is closing, we must act now!&quot; demanded BVMed CEO and board member Dr. Marc-Pierre M ll. He emphasized that Germany and France together account for over 50 percent of the medical device market in the EU. &quot;A strong alliance is forming here that is now leading the way in Europe,&quot; M ll said. 
 The MDR has been in force since May 26, 2021, and completely redefines the certification of all existing and new medical devices. This means that 450,000 different products alone will have to undergo a new conformity assessment. The MDR poses comprehensive challenges for all manufacturers. Small and medium-sized companies in particular are reaching their limits. 
 According to BVMed and SNITEM, the hope of having a fully functional system in place by the date of application after the one-year postponement of MDR from 2020 to 2021 has not become reality. In fact, the system is only partially operational. Of 25,000 certificates needed, not even 1,000 have been issued so far. There is not only a backlog in the certification of existing products, but also a backlog in innovations, as many development resources are going into MDR regulation. 
 &quot;We stuck in a backward-looking system that ties up too many of the scarce resources in the industry and at Notified Bodies. With more products to be certified in a shorter period of time and more extensive documentation to be reviewed, the current capacity of the 27 Notified Bodies is insufficient and far from the actual capacity needed. We need to work together on solutions to increase capacity,&quot; BVMed and SNITEM said. The window of opportunity is closing. According to the current regulations, the transition period ends on May 26, 2024. &quot;The duration of the certification is on average around 18 months. This means that by the third quarter of 2022 at the latest, business decisions will have to be made as to which products will have to be withdrawn from the market. Time is running out. The situation is coming to a head dramatically. A collapse in patient care must be prevented,&quot; says the joint statement from the two associations. 
 &amp;nbsp; 
 In the view of BVMed and SNITEM, the following steps, among others, are necessary to achieve this:   
 Strengthening the capacity of Notified Bodies. 
 For the approximately 25,000 certificates that must be transferred to the MDR, as well as for new products, it is essential that Notified Bodies continue to massively expand their existing capacity, make better use of it and, above all, set the priorities correctly. Access to Notified Bodies must be increased and made equally available to all manufacturers. Triages must be prevented. The designation period for notified bodies must be shortened, ongoing assessments must be streamlined, and incentives must be provided for further applications. 
 Sensible use of available resources. 
 The current backward-looking system must change into a forward-looking system. This requires a pragmatic approach to the transfer of existing products to the MDR by creating unbureaucratic opportunities to make the best possible use of the currently limited capacities of the Notified Bodies for QMS audits and the review of technical documentation. This includes the issuance of certificates subject to conditions, recognition of all relevant parameters for clinical evaluation with weighting on postmarket data and recognition of the similarity principle, but also the streamlining of consultation processes and the establishment of special regulations for niche products. In addition, meaningful monitoring of &quot;legacy products&quot; is essential. 
 Postponement of the transition period. 
 By extending the transition period in two stages by two years for higher classified products (class III and implantable products) and by four years for all other products, the availability of medical devices with the currently available resources is to be ensured. The end of the sell-off period must also be adjusted accordingly. 
 &amp;nbsp; 
 
 &quot;The three points must be implemented hand in hand. Simply extending the transition period is not enough. We need to channel and prioritize existing resources to untangle the MDR bottleneck. We call on the political decision-makers to act now to ensure 3 | BVMed Press Release 18/22 as of 03/14/2022 patient care with safe medical devices in Europe,&quot; is the appeal of Dr. Marc-Pierre M ll from BVMed. 
 
 &amp;nbsp; 
  Press release of BVMed   March 14 2022 V.i.S.d.P.: Manfred Beeres M.A., Head of Communication/Press, BVMed Tel.: +49 (0)30 246 2 55-20, beeres@bvmed.de   
       
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            </content>

                            <updated>2022-03-17T06:45:00+01:00</updated>
                    </entry>

    
    
        <entry>
            <title type="text">Noise protection when using ultrasonic baths</title>
            <id>https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/noise-protection-when-using-ultrasonic-baths</id>
            <link href="https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/noise-protection-when-using-ultrasonic-baths"/>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[
                
                                            The sound emissions from ultrasonic baths (ultrasonic cleaners) are often an underestimated hazard. However, they must be measured and evaluated in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
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            </summary>
            <content type="html">
                <![CDATA[
                  by Johanna Klümper    
 
 The sound emissions from ultrasonic baths (ultrasonic cleaners) are often an underestimated hazard. However, they must be measured and evaluated in accordance with applicable legal requirements. To this end, a number of guide and threshold values have been defined in Germany but they mainly refer to the audible frequency range and do not take into account large amounts of the sound emitted by ultrasonic baths. The properties of ultrasound also raise technical issues, which is why conventional measuring equipment cannot be used and a tailored approach must be taken for measurements. While measurements show that ultrasonic baths of normal size should not generally pose a hazard to workers, there are mechanisms that could potentially cause harm as the size increases or several units are operated simultaneously. However, if necessary, sound reduction measures can be incorporated into operations relatively easily. 
 
  Introduction 
 The hazards to which the Reprocessing Unit for Medical Devices (RUMED) personnel are exposed when using ultrasonic baths have generally been thoroughly investigated and are well known. These include the harmful effects of reaching into the ultrasonic bath during operation, in addition to the fact that at temperatures above 50  C aerosols can be formed in the cleaning solution which can potentially transmit infectious pathogens. For this reason, the German Technical Regulation TRBA 250 (Technical Rules for Biological Agents in Healthcare and Welfare Facilities) stipulates the use of a lid or suction system when using ultrasonic baths. Conversely, the noise pollution generated by ultrasonic baths and its potentially harmful effects on staff are often overlooked. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that the audible cavitation noise exposure is subjectively assessed as being rather low, while the ultrasound components above 16 kHz are naturally not perceived by the human auditory system and their potential hazardousness are thus underestimated. On the other hand, occupational safety and health (OSH) regulations often exclude ultrasound, which creates legal uncertainties as to whether and how it should be assessed. Besides, the damaging effects of ultrasound on human hearing is a controversial topic that to date has been researched relatively little. Besides, measurements of conventional sound in the audible frequency range below 16 kHz are also distorted by ultrasound components, while exposure in the ultrasound range cannot be measured by conventional, handheld sound level meters, because these are not designed to measure the special properties of ultrasound. 
 This paper summarizes the harmful effects of ultrasound on humans and describes the legal and normative requirements for sound level measurements, in relation to the special features of ultrasound, as well as protective noise reduction measures. It also presents the results of an exemplary measurement to illustrate and better characterize this issue.   
 Potential health hazards 
 Noise can cause both aural and extraaural negative health effects in humans. Extra-aural noise effects are all effects on humans that are not directly related to hearing, such as high blood pressure, stress, or impaired concentration. With regard to ultrasound, employees sometimes report subjective effects such as nausea, dizziness, headaches, etc. However, it is debatable to what extent ultrasound is actually responsible for the extra-aural effects, or whether sound in the high audible frequency range could be the cause. It is also possible that the experienced symptoms are of a psychosomatic nature [1].         Aural effects are those that directly affect the inner ear. Damage to the auditory system can be caused by permanent exposure to noise as well as by a single episode of very short and loud sound events. Bang and explosion trauma caused by single sound events destroy hair cells of the inner ear within a few milliseconds, while permanent noise exposure causes gradual noise-induced hearing loss. This stems from sensory cell fatigue, leading to what is termed temporary threshold shift (TTS); the auditory faculties are fully restored by taking a sufficiently long break from noise exposure. If the sensory cells cannot be regenerated because of permanent exposure to sound, a noise-induced permanent threshold shift (NIPTS) presents. Since ultrasound cannot generally be perceived by the human auditory system, it is not possible to simply extrapolate substantiated research findings on the development of noise-induced hearing loss from the auditory frequency to the ultrasound range. 
 For a detailed list of studies on the aural effects of ultrasound, please refer to the various literature reviews [2-5]. In summary, it can be stated that continuous exposure to ultrasound is thought to cause some damage to the human auditory system. While ultrasound does not appear to cause permanent threshold shifts in the speech frequency range, it can cause temporary threshold shifts in the high-frequency range, which in turn are a potential trigger for permanent damage. It is unclear to what extent the ultrasound itself is the cause of the observed damage, or whether conversely this is caused by noise in the high-frequency range that normally accompanies the ultrasound cavitation or subharmonics. Besides, no statement can be made about dose-effect relations, which must be regarded as a basic requirement for effective stipulation of threshold values. Therefore, there is a considerable need for further research in this area. 
 &amp;nbsp; 
 Legal, normative and technical requirements 
 In Germany, the legal situation as regards the assessment of ultrasound in terms of occupational safety and health is accordingly rather patchy. Notwithstanding this, the risk assessment enshrined in the German Occupational Safety and Health Act (ArbSchG) can be applied to ultrasonic baths. The German Noise and Vibration Occupational Safety and Health Regulation (Lärm-VibrationsArbSchV) sets out in more specific terms the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act with regard to the hazards caused by noise or vibrations to the health of employees. Noise is defined in the regulation in relatively broad terms as “any sound that can impair hearing or otherwise directly or indirectly endanger the safety and health of employees” [6]; this also includes ultrasound. With regard to risk assessment, the Noise and Vibration Regulation stipulates that the exposure of employees be determined and assessed. To that effect, the manufacturer documentation or other sources should be consulted (e.g. publications by the Employer’s Liability Insurance Association). However, such sources are usually not available for ultrasonic systems because emissions depend very much on the properties of the ultrasound prevailing in the respective workplace. The regulation also specifies lower and upper exposure action values, i.e. threshold values, which, when reached or exceeded, require the implementation of measures to protect employees. The threshold and guide values applicable in Germany for noise that is hazardous to health are shown in Table 1. The weighting filters used for these threshold values should be borne in mind and which, depending on the intended use, serve to simulate human hearing and thus provide information about the effect of sound on it. The A-weighted daily noise exposure level L EX,8h , which calculates the sound exposure of employees during an 8-hour work shift, leads to problems here since it is designed for measurements in the auditory frequency range and produces inaccurate results as soon as ultrasound components come into play. The C-weighted peak sound pressure level L pCpeak , whose weighting filter is designed for the detection of loud sounds and is thus used for the detection of single, very loud sound events by displaying the absolute sound peak during a measurement, is also unsuitable for the measurement of ultrasound, since ultrasonic baths generally generate constant sound emissions and sound peaks are therefore of subordinate importance for evaluation. 
 &amp;nbsp; 
 
  Read more?    Download the full article here for free. &amp;nbsp; 
 
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            </content>

                            <updated>2022-03-17T06:00:00+01:00</updated>
                    </entry>

    
    
        <entry>
            <title type="text">Obituary for Anke Carter</title>
            <id>https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/obituary-for-anke-carter</id>
            <link href="https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/obituary-for-anke-carter"/>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[
                
                                            January ended with a shock when we received the news that Anke Carter, long-standing board member of the DGSV, suddenly passed away. Many international colleagues had also known and worked with her for many years. She qualified and motivated many people in specialist courses f...
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            <content type="html">
                <![CDATA[
                 
 Dear Anke, 
 We are stunned and deeply shocked. 
 A short time ago, or just now, we spoke with you. We exchanged ideas, thought and reflected about what further steps we would take in shaping our, YOUR, professional society. And your thoughts and words were of such paramount importance, so well considered, purposeful and creative. 
 Not long ago, or just now, we were laughing, fooling around or simply dreaming together with you, preferably on your red sofa. 
 Not long ago, or just now, you were a long-standing member of the DGSV e.V, always shaping its destiny. You worked for our concerns and our goals 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. 
 Your expertise, your competence, your insistence, your positive impatience and energy and your corrective actions are irreplaceable and everything that you and we created together over the years is now also an everlasting memory of you. 
 Now you are no longer here. 
 But the memory is a window through which we can see you whenever we wish. 
  You will remain with us forever.  
 Our deepest sympathy goes to your family and your partner. 
 On behalf of the DGSV e.V. board of directors and committees:   Klaus Wiese, Frank Deinet, Maik Roitsch, Adelheid Jones, Winfried Michels, Angelika Schlepp, Maria-Theresia Linner, Ulrike Zimmermann, Dirk Diedrich, Kathrin Mann, Rainer Stens  
 &amp;nbsp; 
 Anke Carter, Deputy Chair of the DGSV e.V., passed away unexpectedly on the evening of 24 January 2022.  Anke Carter was a member of the German Society of Sterile Supply (DGSV e.V.) since 13 January 1997. From 1998 to 2008 she was a member of the board of directors and from 2002 to 2008 chair of the DGSV e.V. From 2013 she was once again a member of the board.  She was head of the Education Committee since October 2012. Early on, she also shared responsibility for the Quality Task Group specialist committee. In addition, Anke Carter participated in many working groups and guideline groups for the DGSV e.V. She has been instrumental in helping many people achieve qualifications, and in motivating them to take part in several specialist training courses, in the field of medical device reprocessing. Anke Carter was 60 years old. 
 
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            </content>

                            <updated>2022-02-17T06:15:00+01:00</updated>
                    </entry>

    
    
        <entry>
            <title type="text">Linkcollection COVID-19</title>
            <id>https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/linkcollection-covid-19</id>
            <link href="https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/linkcollection-covid-19"/>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[
                
                                            Overview of the most important official informations, studies and scientific overviews of COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2.
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            </summary>
            <content type="html">
                <![CDATA[
                  Essentials  
 
  Overview of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)  
  CDC is responding to the novel coronavirus outbreak  
  Rolling updates of the WHO   
  ncov2019.live – the pandemic in figures  
   Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: implications for infection prevention precautions (WHO)   
   Roadmap to improve and ensure good indoor ventilation in the context of COVID-19 (WHO)    
 
   Information centers of international journals and databases    
 
  The Lancet – COVID-19 Resource Center   
  The New England Journal of Medicine – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Area   
  Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center&amp;nbsp;   
 
  Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases - Interactive map (Desktop)  
  Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases - Interactive map (Mobile)  
 
  ClinicalTrials.gov: Studies for COVID-19   
  Internet Book of Critical Care (IBCC) – COVID-19: Facts  
  Wolters Kluwer UpToDate: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)   
  Science Direct (Elsevier): Novel Coronavirus Information Center (engl.)  
 
 &amp;nbsp;Latest update: 27-1-2022 
         
                ]]>
            </content>

                            <updated>2022-01-26T09:00:00+01:00</updated>
                    </entry>

    
    
        <entry>
            <title type="text">The Superhero Health Check</title>
            <id>https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/the-superhero-health-check</id>
            <link href="https://shop.mhp-verlag.de/en/news-release/the-superhero-health-check"/>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[
                
                                            How does the lifestyle of superheroes affect their ageing process? Have you ever wondered? 
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            </summary>
            <content type="html">
                <![CDATA[
                 How does the lifestyle of superheroes affect their ageing process? Have you ever wondered?&amp;nbsp; The team of the   British Medical Journal   took a close look at some heroes of the Marvel universe to clarify this question.   
 On the plus side 
 ➕ regular exercise (superheroes don&#039;t sit around much, but walk back and forth a lot – even when discussing how to prevent the enslavement of humanity planned by aliens) ➕ a high level of social cohesion and connectedness, which is associated with a lower risk of dementia ➕ With the exception of Thor (whose ageing process is affected by his immortality), most superheroes do not drink heavily or smoke (except for Iron Man, in whom binge drinking has been observed). Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption are associated with longevity and healthy ageing. ➕Superheroes tend to have high educational attainment and (with one exception) a healthy weight. This can also be associated with positive ageing. 
  On the other hand, the following are considered risk factors&amp;nbsp; 
 ➖ Superheroes are repeatedly in close proximity to interplanetary collisions and explosions. Exposure to loud noises during military combat has been linked to hearing loss, which in turn is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. ➖ Superheroes are more likely to suffer severe head injuries, which could increase their risk of dementia. Many of their activities also increase the risk of life-changing physical injuries and disabilities.  &amp;nbsp;      &amp;nbsp; 
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            </content>

                            <updated>2022-01-20T11:00:00+01:00</updated>
                    </entry>

    
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