How do you sterilize an endoscope?

How do you sterilize an endoscope?

Endoscopic instruments do not tolerate autoclaving. A new method of sterilizing by moist heat has been used in the laboratory and shown to be an improvement. It involves immersing the contaminated instrument in a waterbath at 85° C. for one hour.

What is the endoscopy procedure?

An endoscopy procedure involves inserting a long, flexible tube (endoscope) down the throat and into the esophagus. A tiny camera on the end of the endoscope lets the doctor examine the esophagus, stomach and the beginning of the small intestine (duodenum).

How do you leak test Olympus endoscope?

Five Steps for Leak-Testing a Scope

1. Properly connecting the water cap and pressure tester.
2. Properly pressurizing your scope for testing.
3. Submerging only the bending section first.
4. Submerging the entire scope.
5. Flushing the channels during the pressure test.

Why is it important to clean endoscopes a soon as possible after use?

It is vital to clean endoscopes manually as this can remove 95% of the organic debris and micro-organisms that may be present.

Do endoscopes need to be sterilized?

Endoscopy equipment should always be cleaned, disinfected, and sterilized for infection control. Doing so will ensure the safety of you and your patients and will allow endoscopy to continue to work well for your medical practice for years to come.

What are the three 3 reprocessing procedures for equipment?

Reprocessing is a multistep process that includes cleaning, inspection and assembly, functional testing (if applicable), disinfection (if applicable), packaging and labelling, sterilization (if applicable) and storage.

When should reprocessing be used?

When used on patients, reusable devices become soiled and contaminated with microorganisms. To avoid any risk of infection by a contaminated device, reusable devices undergo “reprocessing,” a detailed, multistep process to clean and then disinfect or sterilize them.

What are the guidelines for endoscope reprocessing?

Guidelines for endoscope reprocessing prescribe the following steps (Rey et al., 2005; SGNA, 2009): 1. precleaning, 2. leak testing, 3. manual cleaning, 4. rinse after cleaning, 5. high level disinfection,(manual or automated) 6. rinse after high level disinfection, 7. drying, and 8. storage.

What are the standards of infection prevention for endoscopes?

 Per SGNA Standards of Infection Prevention in Reprocessing Flexible Gastrointestinal Endoscopes, “Endoscopes must be stored in an area that is clean, well-ventilated and dust-free in order to keep the endoscopes dry and free of microbial contamination. An endoscope that is not dry must be reprocessed before use.

What is the proper storage position for flexible endoscopes?

 Per SGNA Standards of Infection Prevention in Reprocessing Flexible Gastrointestinal Endoscopes, “In conventional storage, hang endoscopes in a vertical position (with caps, valves, and other detachable components removed) to prevent moisture accumulation and subsequent microbial growth.

What is delayed reprocessing for endoscopes?

Delayed reprocessing requires longer soaking periods in detergent to allow the debris to loosen so it can be removed by brushing the channel(s) and wiping the exterior. For maximum effect, the extended soak in detergent could last up to 10 hours for flexible GI endoscopes and up to one hour for surgical flexible endoscopes, including bronchoscopes.