An electrocardiogram (ECG), the recording of the electrical activity in the heart, is the most commonly performed cardiac test. It is carried out in a variety of clinical settings in hospitals and primary care, and its use is standard practice among high-risk, critically ill patients, and those who have undergone cardiac surgery. ECG recording is classified into two main categories: monitoring and diagnostic. 12-lead ECGs, which require electrodes to be placed on the chest and each limb, are used for diagnostic purposes, whereas 3- or 5-lead ECGs are used for rhythm monitoring. Cross-infection can arise from reusing ECG cables, even if they have been cleaned. Surgical site infection is a particular risk in patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting, because ECG wires are placed on the chest close to the incision site. Single-use ECG leads, such as the Kendall DL™ ECG cable and lead wire system, reduce the risk of cross-contamination between patients and free nursing time for patient care because they are discarded after use and do not have to be cleaned and disinfected for use with another patient.
Keywords: ECG; Electrocardiogram; Healthcare-associated infections; Infection prevention; Single-use devices; Surgical site infections.