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O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 4
followed the manufactur-
er's reprocessing instruc-
tions and the instruments
had been steam sterilized
between uses.
A report
( tinyurl.com/kfvsu5b)
in the
journal Infection Control
and Hospital
Epidemiology says the
bioburden was not appar-
ent on routine examina-
tion of the shavers and
was detected only through
endoscopic visualization
of the suction channel, a
problem discovered in
other facilities among
shavers from other manu-
facturers, suggesting the
issue was not limited to a single locale or product.
An FDA-issued safety alert (
tinyurl.com/neqbpu)
regarding tissue
remaining in arthroscopic shavers even after manufacturers' instruc-
tions for reprocessing have been followed suggests facilities consider
inspecting the inside of the devices following cleaning to ensure they
have been cleared of any tissue or fluids. For example, after the out-
break, Methodist started using a 3mm video scope to inspect the
channels of shaver handpieces.
C E N T R A L S T E R I L E
HANGING AROUND Store flexible endoscopes dry to keep
internal channels clear of harmful bacteria.
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