As an endoscopy technician, I cannot stress enough the importance of properly cleaning and maintaining your endoscopes. Not only for the well being and health of your patients, but also the
person(s) responsible for reprocessing and for the over all general life of your scopes. At our facility, in Cleveland, Texas, we use Olympus scopes. No matter what brand of scopes you may use, I highly stress that healthcare workers
(HCWs) properly clean and maintain your scopes as recommended by the manufacturer. I personally like to treat patients as though they are my family. I think that if you feel your patient is a family member, you will try and make sure the scopes are in good working order and have been cleaned properly.
Proper cleaning, maintenance, and storage of scopes cannot be stressed enough. Endoscopes are very complex and expensive tools. They should be stored in a safe place, hanging in a vertical position in a cabinet with air circulation. Care must be taken while carrying instruments, since the rigid optics are easily damaged if left to dangle or be knocked against a hard surface. The head, tip, and umbilical connector should be held at all times to prevent accidents from happening.
Medical literature reports incidents of patient cross contamination resulting from improper cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization. It is strongly recommended that reprocessing personnel have a thorough understanding of and follow all national and local hospital guidelines and policies. A specific individual or individuals in the endoscopy unit should be responsible for reprocessing endoscopic equipment. It is also recommended that a trained back up be available should the primary reprocessing individual(s) be absent. All individuals responsible for reprocessing should thoroughly understand Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) regulations, all national and local hospital guidelines and policies and pertinent germicide labeling.
The infectious hazards of endoscopy received regrettably little interest in earlier years. Today, there are few endoscopists who are unaware of the need for proper cleaning and disinfection of endoscopes and accessories. The need to face up to laborious and time-consuming cleaning routines was forced by a combination of AIDS awareness, individual case reports of salmonella transmission, and the realization that ERCP can provoke life-threatening sepsis unless the highest standards are applied. The risk of transmitting Helicobacter pylori is also pertinent. Even if the endoscope itself has been properly disinfected, catastrophe can originate from bacterial forceps, even when instruments and accessories have been scrupulously managed. We realize that changes of materials, disinfectants, and working practices may outdate these current views, for more detailed accounts the reader should consult other local sources and manufacturers representatives. Infection control experts should also be welcomed as partners in this important exercise. They should be invited to participate in defining unit policies, and in monitoring their effectiveness.
Proper care and handling of scopes will extend their life and save costly repairs. An importantly, proper reprocessing will protect you and your patient.
Remember you could be cleaning this scope for you, or a member of your family.
Sherree Hopkins, Endoscopy Technician
Cleveland Regional Medical Center
Cleveland, Texas
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