D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 8 1
T
he long, narrow
lumens of flexible
endoscopes can make
reprocessing the deli-
cate instruments feel
like an exercise in futility. But
despite the inherent challenges
associated with achieving high-
level disinfection, there's been no
recent revelations about proper
endoscope reprocessing.
"The whole process is still highly
reliant on completing the manual
steps thoroughly, and completing
them in order," says Bret T.
Petersen, MD, a gastroenterologist
at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester,
Minn. "The steps are prone to error and lapses — depending on the
facility, staff training, work environment and availability of appropri-
ate resources to accomplish them."
Use the following advice to give your reprocessing techs the support
they need to ensure endoscopes are properly cared for between uses
and returned to procedure rooms free of the bioburden that increases
cross-contamination risks.
3 Essential Steps in Endoscope Care
Manual cleaning, internal channel inspection and proper drying
are necessary to ensure that high-level disinfection occurs.
Daniel Cook | Executive Editor
• LEADING ROLE Reprocessing techs need to work in a sup-
portive environment and be given a reasonable amount of time
to properly turn around scopes.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR