recommends a shift from disinfection to sterilization. "To protect the
public health we — FDA, industry, professional organizations — must
shift endoscope reprocessing from high-level disinfection to steriliza-
tion," says Dr. Rutala. "FDA should mandate that duodenoscopes —
preferably all GI scopes — used in healthcare facilities be sterile by
2018."
3. Are your scopes compatible with the AER? Be sure to confirm
compatibility with both the AER manufacturer and your endoscope
manufacturer. You don't want to make a mistake and end up having to
buy new scopes due to an unforeseen compatibility issue. The AER
manufacturer may use color-coding or numbering systems to help
match endoscopes with the appropriate connectors and to ensure
proper orientation.
4. How big's the footprint? How much space will the AER occupy
in your central sterile department. A counter-top style AER will work
if you need to reprocess 1 or 2 endoscopes at a time, but you should
consider a standalone dual-basin model if you need to reprocess mul-
tiple scopes at once; some standalone models are half the size of their
competitors. Also ask whether you'll need special plumbing or power
supply.
5. Which features come standard? Are all the features being sold to
you standard, or are some optional? Some manufacturers offer leak-
testing and pre-cleaning capabilities as extras. Some AERs have ultra-
sonic cleaning capabilities. Some flush the channels with alcohol fol-
lowed by forced filtered air to help dry the channels and prevent water-
borne pathogenic microorganisms from growing during storage. And
some control the temperature of the cleaning solution by controlling
the temperature of the incoming water the AER uses for dilution and
rinsing.
6. Does it keep good records? It's important to know which scope
1 0 8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 6
Thinking of Buying …
TB
