IDSc News
The 15th Annual General Meeting, Conference and Exhibition, 22nd - 25th March 2010, PNB Ilham Resort , Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
15th January 2010
Dear Institute of Decontamination Science
The 15th Annual General Meeting, Conference and Exhibition, 22nd – 25th March 2010, PNB Ilham Resort , Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
Greetings from Malaysia!
On behalf of the organising committee, we are pleased to inform that Malaysian Sterile Service Association (MSSA) will be organising the 15th Annual General Meeting, Conference and Exhibition on 22nd to 25th March 2010, at PNB Ilham Resort, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
As has been organised in the previous years, this Conference is the most important avenue for those who are involved in the sterilisation profession, in particular those in the CSSD department to obtain the training and continuous education, as well as keep abreast with the latest technology development and new progress in the industry. Featuring international expert speakers, the scientific programme will encompass a broad range of topics, from in-depth discussions of ongoing issues to unveiling exciting new findings.
This Conference will provide a comprehensive platform for discussion and exploration of the various subjects that pervade this field. Featuring international expert speakers, the scientific programme will encompass a broad range of topics, from in-depth discussions of ongoing issues to unveiling exciting new findings in research.
We would appreciate it if you could assist us promote this conference by linking conference website www.mssa.com.my in your website.
Please feel free to contact us should you require any additional information regarding this Conference.
Once again, we thank you in advance for your support and cooperation.
Thank You,
Cristina Ang
Congress Secretariat
Console Communications Sdn Bhd
Suite11.8, Level 11
Wisma UOA II
21, Jalan Pinang 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603 2162 0566
Fax: +603 2161 6560
Past President, Dr Geoff Ridgway, receives his well-deserved OBE from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace
23rd June 2009
Thursday June 11 2009 saw our immediate past President, Dr Geoff Ridgway, receive his well-deserved OBE from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. Geoff is well known to all of you because of his involvement not only with IDSc, but also our sister organisations the Central Sterilising Club [past Chair] and the Hospital Infection Society [current President] and the DH on many aspects of decontamination.

Cleanrooms and Contamination Control: Standards & Best Practice Update 24-25 June 2009, London Heathrow Marriott Hotel
27th April 2009
BSI is holding its second annual conference and workshop on cleanrooms and contamination control, to assist those who operate, manage, equip, commission or build cleanrooms to prepare for changes to key standards. Speakers include Bovis Lend Lease, AstraZeneca, the Society of Environmental Engineers and the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Sciences Society.
Early bird rates are available until 20 May. For more information, visit www.bsigroup.com/cleanroomsconference
IDSc members are entitled to a 10% discount on their conference package, including on early bird rates. This offer is not available online; to book, call BSI customer services on 020 8996 9001and quote reference code CTCCC-IDSC.
BSi Standard Changes
29th January 2009
BSi Standard Changes
Due to a security loophole within BSOL it was previously possible for users of institutional subscriptions to BSOL to be able to save and print documents from the service. In order to protect our intellectual property rights we have now managed to make some small changes to ensure that this is no longer possible, which will bring about some small changes in the way that your users view PDFs onscreen.
The document view screen will now look as per the attached document.
When will this change take place?
Friday 30th January 2009 before midday
What action do you have to take?
Please ensure that you send this information out to any users that you feel may need the information.
I have questions what do I need to do?
If you have any queries or concerns relating to your users’ experience in light of this change, please do not hesitate to contact BSi.
Malaysian Sterile Service Association: 14th Annual General Meeting, Conference and Exhibition. Date: 24th to 27th March 2009
6th January 2009
Click here to download the Conference information in PDF format.
(ESAC-Pr) New Technologies Working Group, Report on Prion Inactivating Agents
15th September 2008
Decontamination of reusable surgical instruments
30th April 2008
The Institute of Decontamination Sciences is the leading expert professional body representing personnel involved in the reprocessing (decontamination) of reusable surgical instruments within Sterile Service Departments in both the National Health Services (NHS) and independent healthcare sectors.
As such, and in response to the concerns expressed by The Royal College of Surgeons of England (24 April 2008), we would like to confirm our support and commitment to improving standards and practices applied to decontamination services throughout all areas of healthcare delivery.
The NHS is currently supplied with a wide range of instruments for surgical interventions by a number of suppliers, known as a mixed economy. Those suppliers may be ‘In-house’ NHS Sterile Service Departments, part of Private Finance Initiatives, Outsourced services or as part of a joint venture scheme between NHS Hospital Trusts and private sector partnerships (National Decontamination Programme). Additionally, for complex, special procedures ‘loan kits’ of instruments may be provided directly by manufacturers.
Gillian Sills, IDSc College of Fellows said “Whilst we acknowledge there have been some difficulties with the transition of services to private sector partners, the issues faced as a consequence of these transfers have sometimes been based on existing problems not being resolved prior to transfer and a general lack of planning and poor communication.”
Damage to trays wraps, as mentioned on BBC News on 24th April, is an international service-wide issue that is not exclusively limited to the provision of outsourced decontamination services such as super-centres. Dirty or missing instruments are a quality control issue which should be managed out by appropriate accredited training of staff and definition and implementation of an acknowledged career pathway, which sadly, is not always evident within these units.
IDSc will provide whatever expert support and advice is considered necessary to overcome the present difficulties to ensure the provision of safe and efficient decontamination of reusable medical devices (surgical instruments) in support of excellence in safe patient care.
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