ISHA- Advantage

ISHA dedicates itself to the promotion of the harmonization of sterilization departments and of decontamination practices. We make a contribution not only to ensure that the quality of reprocessing is of the highest possible level across the country but also to make the basic right of every patient to be treated with a medical device of a good quality come true. Integrity and objectivity, openness and transparency, cooperation and support are the core values in our association.

Registration Here

Dr HS Chhabra (World renowned Spine Surgeon)

Patron in Chief - ISHA

From the Desk Of Patron in Chief...

Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI) are becoming a major health crisis throughout the world. In the United States, 4.5% of hospitalized patients develop hospital-acquired infections, resulting in an estimated 100,000 deaths. Of the many causes of HAIs, one of the most important cause is limitation of knowledge and practice of sterilization, disinfection and aseptic process protocols. Central Sterile Supply Departments(CSSD)of all healthcare organizations play a very critical role in prevention of hospital-acquired infections. To ensure infection prevention, the CSSD professionals must be well versed, well- trained, efficient and committed. They should have knowledge about the standers protocols, complexities, challenges, risks and techniques associated with the functioning of CSSD.

Taking cognizance of hospital acquired infections and limitation of guidelines for sterilization, disinfection and functioning of CSSD in healthcare organizations, Indian Sterilization Healthcare Association (ISHA) has developing & Guidelines for Indian Sterile Services &. These guidelines comprise of various chapters which describe standard practices and protocols for designing CSSD, care of instruments, cleaning & disinfection, packaging, sterilization, quality assurance, storage and issue of instruments & amp; equipment,. Additional features of these guidelines includes chapters on communication skills, essential microbiology and basic human anatomy & physiology. I would want to complement ISHA Team for having done a tremendous job by developing Guidelines for Indian Sterile Services in a language that is easy to understand.

ISHACON REGISTRATION HERE

Capt. Baban Rai

(President ISHA)

From the desk OF President

ISHA (Indian sterilization healthcare Association) is a registered body of Sterile professionals associated with various healthcare organizations. This organization strives for the up gradation of central sterile services at par with international standards. Infect in our country, Central sterile services (primarily services of CSSD) are in very pathetic state in most of the hospitals barring some corporate hospitals and private hospitals. In such hospitals, recommended practices and standards are not followed.

As we know that Central Sterile Supply Department breaks the chain of infection by killing the causative organisms present on healthcare items like instruments, equipment, implants and consumables. We know that Central Sterile Services are responsible to ensure patient safety by providing efficient, economic and germ free patient care items at the point of use and, also to provide a safe environment for the patients and staff. In case surgical instruments & equipment's, disposables are not appropriately processed, patients safety is compromised. Substandard reprocessing in CSSD may results into Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) which may lead to even loss of life in some cases. I can recollect an incident that occurred around 4 years agon in Bilaspur district of Chhatisgarh state. At least 13 women had lost their life and many were seriously sick due to use of non sterilized laparoscope, gloves, other consumables in laparoscopic procedures. These procedures were performed in a hospital on 08 November 2014. It was revealed by investigating agency that surgeon had used same gloves and same instruments on all the 83 women which had suffered life-threatening infections. Same laparoscope was used in all subsequent surgeries without disinfection and sterilization between the procedures. Though surgeon was prosecuted but was acquitted after the prosecution on the ground that the investigators did not have the State government’s sanction, necessary to prosecute a public servant.

It is obvious that these deaths occurred due to negligence and ignorance about the undesired outcomes if non sterilized products are used on patients. The operating surgeon and his team would not had imagined such a serious outcome on account of negligence. In our country such incidents happened regularly every year, but very few of these are reported. I assume that only surgeon are not responsible for such lapses. Whenever a surgical procedure is conducted, there are many healthcare workers involved in it who are responsible for maintaining the sterility of healthcare products and environments in surgical fields. It is because, there are no obligatory national guidelines, standards and regulations for functioning of this department. Though some corporate hospital and private hospitals follow US and European standards & guidelines, but in the absence of national guidelines, large number of general hospitals, governments hospitals and nursing homes do not follow any guidelines and they follow standards made by themselves, which are far below acceptable standard. One of the most important objectives of this organization is prevention of Healthcare Associated Infections in patients by raising the bar of CSSD and standards of Sterile services in Hospitals and Nursing homes which may be achieved by updating the processes, inculcating the relevant education and providing adequate training to sterile professionals.

To take care of these objectives, we need a professional body at national level with standards and guidelines for sterile services. Our organization, ISHA strives to become a national body of sterile professionals recognized by Government of India and we are trying to achieve the same. One of the ISHA long term future plans is to go for academic collaboration with industries, educational institutions, similar organizations and government bodies whose purpose will be to propel the learnings activities and research developments in the field of sterile technologies. It is a fact that so for no investment has been done for research and academic activities in the field of sterile technologies. We in the ISHA, dream for an ISHA Academic school and a research centre for sterile technologies. Though as of now it seems to be a remote possibilities but I assume that nothing is impossible. One can achieve any goal, provided it is pursued with devotion and dedication. ISHA has also formulated guidelines for sterile services suitable to the Indian environment. We are trying to get these guidelines recognised by Government agencies. This is also in the tunning with present central government policies of MAKE IN INDIA and SKILL DEVELOPMENT.

At the same time, I would like to add that realizing these dreams is not an easy task and it may take many years. As there is a saying, ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY , It is a well known fact that involving government in any project or getting a project accepted by government or getting recognized by the government is very tedious task due to various factors, though present government has done a lot to make the processes easy. I am very confidant that if we follow steadily and move forward with strong determination, one day our dreams will must turn into reality. ISHA is a newly formed organization and presently it is passing through child stage. So I request every one to support and care this organization, in the same way as we take care of our own child at home. This is justbeginning of a journey and ISHA will have to travel long ways. We will have to ensure that this journey should continue relentlessly. I would appeal everybody to help ISHA in achieving its vision and mission.

Jai Hind

ISHA TEAM