What sink dimensions are required when manually cleaning an endoscope?

Q: What should be the dimensions of the sink when you use manual cleaning of the endoscope? -- Sharon Cameron

A: According to AAMI's Comprehensive Guide to Steam Sterilization and Sterility Assurance in Health Care Facilities; ST-79 [2006], "An ideal decontamination sink is approximately 36 inches from the floor and eight to 10 inches deep, enabling a person of average size to work comfortably without undue strain on his/her back. The sink should be of a width and length to allow a tray or container or basket (or flexible scope) to be placed flat for cleaning. Sinks should be large enough to contain large instruments."

For GI, this could be a sink of 30 inches by 12 to 14 inches and 10 inches deep. This would permit complete immersion of the long, flexible scopes for cleaning.

-- Nancy Chobin, RN, AAS, CSPDM, SPD educator with Saint Barnabas Health Care System and executive director of the National Institute for the Certification of Healthcare Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD), Inc.

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