Healthcare Hygiene magazine November 2019 | Page 27

Regarding drying and storage of endoscopes:
8 % acknowledged that they do not dry off the outsides of

endoscopes before storage
Regarding cleaning verification and visual
inspection:
48 % reported using cleaning verification tests to

For exterior surfaces, survey respondents said
they used:
59 %
single-use lint-free cloths
31 %
forced air
14 %
reusable lint-free cloths
washcloth
paper towels
4 %
59 %
alcohol flush in AER
42 %
air purge in AER
drying cabinet 31 %
forced-air purge 30 %
26 %
drip dry
20 %
purge with syringe
Survey respondents reported that their endoscopes
were stored the following ways:
drying cabinet with channel
connectors
storage bins or drawers
other or not sure
inspect their endoscopes
Methods of visual inspection varied, including:
36 %
visual inspection with a
magnifying glass
These drying approaches included:
vertical storage without any
ventilation

5 %
64 % indicated they used at least one drying method
40 % used more than one method (including drip drying)
vertical storage with
ventilation grills, but no fan
50 % reported using at least one method to visually
visual inspection with the unaided eye
For endoscope channels:
vertical storage with fan to
circulate air
detect residual adenosine triphosphate (ATP),
protein or hemoglobin
32 %
29 %
23 %
22 %
10 %
7 %
www.healthcarehygienemagazine.com • november 2019
18 %
visual inspection with a borescope 14 %
reported performing both visual
inspection and cleaning verification 29 %
Regarding improving quality, survey
respondents suggested:
• Expand opportunities for education and training
of technicians and clinicians, including physicians
and nurses
• Centralize endoscope reprocessing to one
department, to simplify education and competency
testing efforts and help ensure each scope is repro-
cessed by an experienced and competent technician
• Improve working conditions for reprocessing
staff personnel who commonly experience health
problems and workplace stress that make it difficult
to perform their job
• Institute quality management programs that
encompass both visual inspection and cleaning
verification tests
• Redesign endoscopes and IFUs to simplify the
reprocessing process
Survey respondents expressed interest in
alternative technologies, including:
• endoscopes that can be disassembled
• sterilizable endoscopes
• single-use/disposable endoscopes
• automation of reprocessing steps
Reference:
Ofstead CL, Hopkins KM, et al. Endoscope Reprocessing: Current
Practices and Challenges in the Field. Process. 2018.
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