The updated guideline, “Multisociety guideline on reprocessing flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes: 2011,” is published in the June issue of GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
The changes include:
- Review of expanded details related to critical reprocessing steps, including cleaning and drying.
- Review of reprocessing issues for various endoscope attachments such as flushing catheters.
- Distinction between risks related to endoscope reprocessing and those related to periprocedural practices, including medication administration.
- Discussion of related issues where there are little or no data to guide practice, such as endoscope “hang time,” the maximum time scopes can be stored without having to be reprocessed again.
Read the ASGE release on endoscope reprocessing.
Read the updated guideline in GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Related Articles on Reprocessing Flexible Gastrointestinal Endoscopes:
New FDA Guidance Aims to Reduce Infections From Endoscopes
Improperly Disinfected Endoscopes Used on Patients at Louisiana Hospital
STERIS Launches Device Designed to Aid Manual Reprocessing of Endoscopes
