Recommendations for bronchoscope reprocessing

The FDA has issued safety recommendations for healthcare facilities that reprocess flexible bronchoscopes, the American Hospital Association (AHA) recently reported.

The FDA said facilities and staff should strictly adhere to the manufacturer’s reprocessing instructions and immediately remove from service any bronchoscope that fails a leak test or shows visible signs of damage. The agency also said facilities should do the following:

• Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for preventive maintenance and repair;
• Implement a comprehensive reprocessing quality control program;
• Store bronchoscopes in a manner that will minimize the likelihood of contamination.

You can access the recommendations at http://1.usa.gov/1KHaPvI.