Plastics and Disposable Equipment in Healthcare, Past and Present
Photo: Christian Belgaux, Morgenbladet.
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In January 2026, Anne Kveim Lie delivered the online presentation ‘Plast og engangsutstyr før og nå i helsetjenesten: Alltid tryggest?’ — ‘Plastics and Disposable Equipment in Healthcare, Past and Present: Always the Safest Option?’
The presentation formed part of a monthly virtual training programme for infection-control personnel working in specialist healthcare services in South-Eastern Norway. Organised by the Regional Centre of Expertise in Infection Control at Helse Sør-Øst, the session brought After the Single Use research into conversation with professionals working directly with infection prevention and patient safety.
Lie examined how plastics and disposable equipment became embedded in healthcare, questioning the assumption that single-use products are always the safest option. The session invited reflection on how ideas about cleanliness and infection control have changed over time, and how historical perspectives might support more sustainable approaches to healthcare practice.
