Dr. Christiane Northrup gives new details on covid vaccine shedding / transmission, especially among women

Some important and informative information on the web page and in comments as to disinfecting and sterilizing guidelines of said equipment, and actual incidents (or what may actually happen, see comments):

“OSHA regulations clearly define vaginal secretions as OPIM (other potentially infectious material) therefore specific decontamination policies must be followed.

These are the guidelines I have implemented for my clients using metal vaginal specula:

These devices are classified as “semi-critical” and should be autoclaved if possible.

If the practice does not have an autoclave, use a high level disinfectant.

In the exam room/procedure room where this examination is performed there must be a covered container ready and available for the dirty specula.

A detergent solution/enzymatic cleanser should be in the transport container. This will help to loosen the bioburden prior to cleaning.

After the procedure, place the specula in the container, close the lid, and transport to the decontaminating area.

The staff member should don gloves, or other PPE if sprays and splashes are anticipated and wash the specula using a brush while holding the instrument under the water in the cleansing solution. Rinse well under running water.

Dry the specula and proceed to sterilize in an autoclave or follow the manufacturer’s instructions for high-level disinfection.

If you are using Glutaraldeyde, comply with the required OSHA regulations for vapor levels, eye wash stations, PPE, and room air exchange recommendations.

Once the specula have been disinfected, store it in a clean, dry area, not in a drawer with dust balls, staples, or thumb tacks!”

From the comments:

“I noticed that the speculum on the sink looked as if it had been run through the autoclave dirty. Dried lubricants around the end. When the dr comes in we begin to talk I’m describing my pain when she pics up the speculum goes to a drawer. I thought she was getting a clean one while I was on the table. I heard a scraping noise while we were talking. When I was getting dressed I noticed only 1 speculum in the sink. Which meant her filthy habit was to scrape the junk off and use it on me. When the results came back I was told I had HPV as I’m asking questions she grew angry yelling at me while her front desk clerk stood there laughing. I changed drs that day. Later I was told I had herpes after bloodwork. I’ve never had an outbreak but always wonder if it came from this incident.”

“To my surprise there was a dirty metal vaginal spectum in the bottom draw. So I then called my husband into the room and told him to make sure the dr. didn’t use the spectrum in the draw. When the exam was over, my husband told me she didn’t use the dirty one in the draw she took one out of her right pocket. Aren’t they supposed to open them in front of patients?”

“It’s disturbing that specula still aren’t required to be autoclaved when basic disinfection does not kill HPV. Once again, women’s health is thrown to the wayside and no one cares. How much time and effort does it take to autoclave the specula? Would it bankrupt the hospital to do so? No? Then why don’t they treat them like scalpels? It’s a good thing that I don’t have HIV or hepatitis because I bleed every time I have a smear. I do have HPV. It’s a shame that the instruments used in me can infect other women.”

http://blogs.hcpro.com/osha/2010/07/notes-from-the-field-%E2%80%9Cdoctor-what-is-that-in-your-hand%E2%80%9D/

http://medidex.com/medical-devices/99-issues-relating-to-disposable-and-reusable-vaginal-specula.html