The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology have released an updated version of their 2003 joint guidelines for processing gastrointestinal endoscopes, according to a report published in the June issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
While the guidelines were revised earlier in the year, the importance of following them becomes even more apparent following continued outbreaks. The new guideline provides an overview of how to clean, dry and disinfect equipment properly. According to the report, since the 2003 guideline was published, the GI community has seen additional infection outbreaks related to suboptimal prevention practices during endoscopy or lapses in endoscopic reprocessing.
The committee found that the efficacy of decontamination and high-level disinfection has not changed, despite the introduction of new high-level disinfectants to the market after 2003.
The new guideline "fills in the gaps" in the previous edition, offering a more in-depth description of the steps required for reprocessing. This includes specific details on cleaning and drying, as well as information on medication administration and reprocessing issues for endoscope attachments.
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.
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While the guidelines were revised earlier in the year, the importance of following them becomes even more apparent following continued outbreaks. The new guideline provides an overview of how to clean, dry and disinfect equipment properly. According to the report, since the 2003 guideline was published, the GI community has seen additional infection outbreaks related to suboptimal prevention practices during endoscopy or lapses in endoscopic reprocessing.
The committee found that the efficacy of decontamination and high-level disinfection has not changed, despite the introduction of new high-level disinfectants to the market after 2003.
The new guideline "fills in the gaps" in the previous edition, offering a more in-depth description of the steps required for reprocessing. This includes specific details on cleaning and drying, as well as information on medication administration and reprocessing issues for endoscope attachments.
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.
Related Articles on GI/Endoscopy:
How to Sell an Endoscopy Center
Olympus America, Caris Diagnostics Partner on New Pathology Reporting Tool
Shamokin Community Area Hospital in PA Selects Provation MD Software