title: [Automatic tracking of cleaned dental instruments by means of the RFID technique].
abstract: For dental care professionals, the availability and cleanliness of reusable instruments is of major importance. In order to guarantee a proper reprocessing (cleaning, sterilization) of each instrument and ensure optimum safety for the patients, a single instrument traceability solution can be implemented. The RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology is the only approach that can provide a fully automated identification of instruments, and a precise monitoring throughout the reprocessing cycle. It consists in integrating a miniature electronic component (RFID tag) to each instrument able to communicate with a transmitter located at a relatively close distance and capable of uniquely identifying each element in any given container, even when closed. In 2011, a pilot project was implemented in collaboration with the Division of Dentistry (SMD) of the University of Geneva and the central sterilization of the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG). This project has demonstrated the applicability and usefulness of RFID technology for tracking reusable dental instruments. In particular, the time saved by the operators and the massive risk reduction when compared to the possible errors during the process of manual identification are two major elements that justify the implementation of an RFID-based instrument traceability solution.
authors.affiliation: Section de Médecine Dentaire (SMD) der Universität Genf, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Krejci
authors.affiliation: Zentralsterilisation, Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève, Genf, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ney
authors.affiliation: Deppeler SA, Rolle, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonny
authors.affiliation: Zentralsterilisation, Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève, Genf, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bréhier
authors.affiliation: Section de Médecine Dentaire (SMD) der Universität Genf, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Massa
authors.affiliation: Section de Médecine Dentaire (SMD) der Universität Genf, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Nadège
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Negrin
authors.affiliation: SATYAtek SA, Vevey, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bovet
mesh_terms: D002497:Centralized Hospital Services; D003762:Dental Instruments; D017743:Equipment Reuse; D010865:Pilot Projects; D057233:Radio Frequency Identification Device; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013242:Sterilization; D013557:Switzerland
vernacular_title: Automatische Rückverfolgung aufbereiteter zahnmedizinischer Instrumente mittels RFID-Technik.