Ultrasound Transducer Decontamination – Best Practice Summary

23 March 2020

This best practice summary has been developed from the national and international guidelines and articles published over the last 5 years. It is intended to provide users of ultrasound with the information and general principles required to promote, ensure and evidence effective and safe decontamination of ultrasound machines and transducers.

This summary is primarily related to transducer and ultrasound machine decontamination. Whilst this is important, it is not the only consideration in the overall protection of patients from infection. Consideration should also be given to all equipment and consumables, but this sits outside the remit of this summary.

Decontamination guidance for specific products by member company:

GE Healthcare:

https://www.gehealthcare.com/products/ultrasound/ultrasound-transducers

https://cleaning.gehealthcare.com/

Canon Medical Systems:

https://global.medical.canon/products/ultrasound/more_information/guideforcleaning.html

Siemens Healthineers:

https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/en-uk/ultrasound/ultrasound-transducer-catalog#Care

Esaote:

Philips Healthcare:

https://www.philips.co.uk/healthcare/resources/feature-detail/ultrasound-care-and-cleaning