Self-study available for endoscope disinfection
How do you ensure your flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes have been properly reprocessed and disinfected? Five professional associa tions have published a position statement and recommendations to clear up the confusion. The Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates in Chicago designed the self-study module, which includes a video, learning guide, and poster.
"There's a written protocol that walks people through step-by-step how to clean, disinfect, rinse, and store their endoscopes," says Sallie B. Walker, RN, CGRN, clinical nurse III in outpatient services at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, KY.
The module - and the position paper it stems from - emphasizes the importance of proper cleaning before disinfection, Walker says. "If you do that, you can remove more than 90% of the bowel burden." The self-study module covers the following major points:
· High-level disinfection is the standard recommended for reprocessing flexible gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopes.
· A written cleaning and disinfection protocol will help ensure consistent and correct reprocessing of endoscopes.
· Competency in reprocessing of GI endoscopes must be documented before a staff member is assigned to reprocess endoscopes, and annually thereafter.
· Staff compliance with the approved reprocessing protocol must be monitored by a designated person with expertise in reprocessing.
· Staff orientation and continuing education must include safe handling of liquid chemical germicides.
· Potency of chemical germicides must be monitored at least daily.
· When using a 2% glutaraldehyde solution without surfactant, endoscopes should be thoroughly manually cleaned, then soaked for 20 minutes in the disinfecting solution.
· Seventy percent isopropyl alcohol is used to flush all channels after disinfection, and water rinsing is the last step in reprocessing.
For more information, contact the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, 401 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-4267. Telephone: (800) 245-7462. Fax: (312) 321-5194. World Wide Web: http://www.sgna.org.
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