brush policy in place that goes beyond merely rinsing and drying used
brushes. Technicians should consistently monitor the quality of
reusable brushes, inspecting both the bristles and length of handle for
any excessive wear or bending. It is recommended that you should
disinfect or sterilize brushes at least daily, and preferably after every
shift.
4. It's acceptable to begin cleaning flexible endoscopes during the
leak-testing phase.
a. true b. false
b. In many facilities, the pressures of case volume mixed with a lim-
ited inventory of flexible endoscopes make it tempting for staff to try
to find efficiencies wherever they can. A common shortcut for endo-
scope technicians is to begin the cleaning process while leak testing
a flexible scope. This practice is unacceptable on multiple levels, but
the primary reason is the duration of the leak test is to provide ade-
quate time for technicians to manipulate, inspect and visually con-
firm whether there are fluctuations in pressure or air bubbles escap-
ing from control bodies or intubation tubing. It's impossible to do
this correctly while also cleaning the scope.
5. Most ultrasonic cleaner manufacturers recommend that you
__________ after a cycle completes.
a. take instruments directly to the assembly stage
b. soak instruments in enzymatic detergent to continue breaking
down bioburden
c. rinse instruments to remove any residuals from the sonication
process
3 6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J u l y 2 0 1 8
