21 devices that might be reusable: ECRI

An ECRI, a healthcare sector research firm focused on device safety testing, report found that some devices labelled as “single use” may be safely reused.

The ECRI-Penn Evidence-based Practice Center, a partnership between ECRI and Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine, analyzed more than 2,000 studies, primarily focusing on devices used for prevention of hospital-acquired infections. Researchers assessed whether the available evidence supported single use or reuse of common medical devices, or was inconclusive. The report broke down devices by scopes and surgical devices; bedside devices, supplies and catheters; and fabric-based supplies.

The report found that while single-use devices were often favored for infection prevention, many devices could be safely reused. Reusing these products could impart significant cost savings and favorable environmental effects. The report also found that factors such as infection rates, supplier agreements, reuse frequency and reprocessing methods influence outcomes.

Here are the devices the global healthcare and patient safety nonprofit studied, along with the general consensus of clinical, economic costs and environmental impacts. 

Note: “Mixed” indicates that studies had widely varying results, “Similar” indicates studies suggest similar results for single use or reused and “Not reported” means no publications measured this outcome.