Cleaning & Infection Control

Infection control on the critical care unit is everyone’s responsibility. The standards below keep patients safe and protect the ultrasound equipment.

Key points

  • Limit training scans on highly infectious patients to reduce transmission risk.
  • Use single-use gel sachets only — never large bottles of non-sterile ultrasound jelly.
  • Sterile probe covers must be used for all procedures, including peripheral venous cannulation. Probes contaminated with blood or body fluids require costly higher-level disinfection that takes machines out of service.
  • Clean machines with red 70% alcohol wipes only (Sanicloth® or red Mediplus®). Other products such as chlorhexidine can damage the equipment.
  • After cleaning, label the machine with a completed green Clinell® sticker.
  • Store only essential consumables on the machine: gel sachets, red 70% alcohol wipes, green Clinell stickers, and sterile probe covers.

Step-by-step cleaning protocol

  1. Power down or freeze controls
    1. Press the Power button and unplug the power cord, OR
    2. On the SonoSite — tap Enter Cleaning Mode on the touch panel or system menu to freeze controls. Hold the 2D button for two seconds to exit.
  2. Remove probe cover, gel and any visible soiling from the transducer.
  3. Inspect the transducer, cable and machine for damage. Report and remove any damaged equipment.
  4. Clean with 70% alcohol wipes only (Sanicloth® or red Mediplus®).
  5. Wipe the transducer from cable strain relief to distal end:
    1. Hold the probe at the proximal end near the strain relief. Don’t hang the probe by its cable.
    2. Wipe the probe lens carefully — paying attention to edges and grooves.
    3. Rotate the probe so every surface is cleaned.
    4. Discard wipes as soon as they’re visibly soiled. Use fresh wipes as needed.
    5. For crevasses (e.g. biopsy notches), wrap a wipe around a soft nylon-bristle brush.
    6. Keep the connector and at least 30 cm of cable out of any fluid.
  6. Re-inspect. Repeat step 5 if any soiling remains.
  7. Clean the machine’s exterior surfaces with pre-moistened 70% alcohol wipes.
  8. Air-dry the system, stand and transducer in a clean, ventilated space. If the cleaner leaves a residue, wipe with distilled water or a clean dry cloth.

Refer to the LocSSIPs and unit policy if in doubt about specific procedures.

critcareultrasound

Critical care echocardiography and point-of-care ultrasound for Salford Critical Care — FUSIC pathway support, governance, image review, and training resources.

Need help?

For anything ultrasound — FUSIC, governance, image review, or training:

criticalcareultrasound@nca.nhs.uk

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© 2026 Salford Critical Care Last updated 14 May 2026