New ASRA Guidelines for Infection Control in Nerve Blocks: What You Need to Know
Patient safety is a top priority in all medical procedures – with infection control playing a particularly crucial role in helping to ensure best outcomes.
The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) recently updated their Pain Medicine 2025 Infection Control Guidelines to offer additional insights for medical professionals performing ultrasound-guided procedures. Highlighted below are a few of their new recommendations, which include:
1. Use a Sterile Probe Cover
One of ASRA’s most important updates reinforces that transparent film dressings should not be used as substitutes in lieu of dedicated, manufacturer-approved, commercially available ultrasound probe sheaths in procedures involving skin puncture. While ultrasound-guided nerve blocks are frequently highly effective, the transducer itself can often become a potential vector for infection if not properly protected. A sterile probe cover prevents direct contact between the ultrasound probe and the skin, acting as a barrier against potential contaminants. ASRA advises that providers always choose covers specifically designed for use with medical equipment.
2. Only Use Sterile Gel
Ultrasound gel serves as a medium to enhance imaging, but it can also act as a breeding ground for microbes. ASRA stresses the use of single-use, sterile gel packets for procedures. Multi-use gel bottles are a common vector for contamination, as are packets whose exteriors are unsterile. By exclusively using sterile gels, you minimize the risk of transmitting bacteria or pathogens during a nerve block and significantly reduce the chance of infections arising from otherwise routine procedures.
Eliminating the risks associated with ultrasound gel is a key step in enhancing patient safety. CIVCO Medical Solutions offers multiple cover products which utilize sterile gel, as well as a completely gel-free solution, Envision, removing the need for traditional gel while maintaining imaging quality. Activated with a sterile liquid, these viral barriers provide a safer alternative for ultrasound-guided procedures, including nerve blocks. To learn more, visit here.
3. Clean Probes After Each Use
Routine cleaning of ultrasound probes is not enough unless proper techniques and disinfectants are employed. ASRA recommends the usage of low-level disinfectants—such as Sani-Cloth AF3 wipes—to clean ultrasound probes before the first use of the day and after each subsequent procedure. This consistent attention to cleanliness helps reduce the risk of transmitting microorganisms between patients.
Supporting this approach, ASRA also points to a recent intersocietal position statement, which has emphasized the need for clearer guidance and reaffirmed that low-level disinfection (LLD) is appropriate for ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedures performed through intact skin with a probe cover, such as those used in regional anesthesia and pain interventions. However, if the probe comes into contact with blood or other body fluids, high-level disinfection (HLD) must be used.
Patient-Centered Care Starts with Safety
Adhering to the ASRA 2025 Infection Control Guidelines for nerve blocks is a vital step in ensuring patient safety. By implementing these measures — including using sterile probe covers and gels and maintaining proper cleaning protocols— can help minimize infection risks and contribute to maintaining high standards of care during procedures.
To learn more about the full guidelines and their importance, scan the QR code or visit the official ASRA Pain Medicine website. Keeping up-to-date with best practices goes a long way in providing the highest standard of care for your patients. 1
References:
#1: Provenzano DA, Hanes M, Hunt C, et al. ASRA Pain Medicine consensus practice infection control guidelines for regional anesthesia and pain medicine. Regional anesthesia and pain medicine. Published online 2025. doi:10.1136/rapm-2024-105651
COPYRIGHT © 2025. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CIVCO IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF CIVCO MEDICAL SOLUTIONS. ALL OTHER TRADEMARKS ARE THE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. ALL PRODUCTS MAY NOT BE LICENSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CANADIAN LAW. PRINTED IN USA. 2025M-3424 REV. 1
The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) recently updated their Pain Medicine 2025 Infection Control Guidelines to offer additional insights for medical professionals performing ultrasound-guided procedures. Highlighted below are a few of their new recommendations, which include:
1. Use a Sterile Probe Cover
One of ASRA’s most important updates reinforces that transparent film dressings should not be used as substitutes in lieu of dedicated, manufacturer-approved, commercially available ultrasound probe sheaths in procedures involving skin puncture. While ultrasound-guided nerve blocks are frequently highly effective, the transducer itself can often become a potential vector for infection if not properly protected. A sterile probe cover prevents direct contact between the ultrasound probe and the skin, acting as a barrier against potential contaminants. ASRA advises that providers always choose covers specifically designed for use with medical equipment.
2. Only Use Sterile Gel
Ultrasound gel serves as a medium to enhance imaging, but it can also act as a breeding ground for microbes. ASRA stresses the use of single-use, sterile gel packets for procedures. Multi-use gel bottles are a common vector for contamination, as are packets whose exteriors are unsterile. By exclusively using sterile gels, you minimize the risk of transmitting bacteria or pathogens during a nerve block and significantly reduce the chance of infections arising from otherwise routine procedures.
Eliminating the risks associated with ultrasound gel is a key step in enhancing patient safety. CIVCO Medical Solutions offers multiple cover products which utilize sterile gel, as well as a completely gel-free solution, Envision, removing the need for traditional gel while maintaining imaging quality. Activated with a sterile liquid, these viral barriers provide a safer alternative for ultrasound-guided procedures, including nerve blocks. To learn more, visit here.
3. Clean Probes After Each Use
Routine cleaning of ultrasound probes is not enough unless proper techniques and disinfectants are employed. ASRA recommends the usage of low-level disinfectants—such as Sani-Cloth AF3 wipes—to clean ultrasound probes before the first use of the day and after each subsequent procedure. This consistent attention to cleanliness helps reduce the risk of transmitting microorganisms between patients.
Supporting this approach, ASRA also points to a recent intersocietal position statement, which has emphasized the need for clearer guidance and reaffirmed that low-level disinfection (LLD) is appropriate for ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedures performed through intact skin with a probe cover, such as those used in regional anesthesia and pain interventions. However, if the probe comes into contact with blood or other body fluids, high-level disinfection (HLD) must be used.
Patient-Centered Care Starts with Safety
Adhering to the ASRA 2025 Infection Control Guidelines for nerve blocks is a vital step in ensuring patient safety. By implementing these measures — including using sterile probe covers and gels and maintaining proper cleaning protocols— can help minimize infection risks and contribute to maintaining high standards of care during procedures.
To learn more about the full guidelines and their importance, scan the QR code or visit the official ASRA Pain Medicine website. Keeping up-to-date with best practices goes a long way in providing the highest standard of care for your patients. 1
References:
#1: Provenzano DA, Hanes M, Hunt C, et al. ASRA Pain Medicine consensus practice infection control guidelines for regional anesthesia and pain medicine. Regional anesthesia and pain medicine. Published online 2025. doi:10.1136/rapm-2024-105651
COPYRIGHT © 2025. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CIVCO IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF CIVCO MEDICAL SOLUTIONS. ALL OTHER TRADEMARKS ARE THE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. ALL PRODUCTS MAY NOT BE LICENSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CANADIAN LAW. PRINTED IN USA. 2025M-3424 REV. 1
