Do your staff know the basics of disinfection?
Do your staff know the basics of disinfection?
The self-study module of the Society for Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates in Chicago covers the following major points:
1. High-level disinfection is the standard recommended for reprocessing flexible GI endoscopes.
2. A written cleaning and disinfection protocol will help ensure consistent and correct reprocessing of endoscopes.
3. Competency in reprocessing gastrointestinal endoscopes must be documented before a staff member is assigned to reprocess endoscopes and annually thereafter.
4. Staff compliance with the approved reprocessing protocol must be monitored by a designated person with expertise in reprocessing.
5. Staff orientation and continuing education must include safe handling of liquid chemical germicides.
6. Potency of chemical germicides must be monitored at least daily.
7. When using a 2% glutaraldehyde solution without surfactant, endoscopes should be thoroughly cleaned manually, then soaked for 20 minutes in the disinfecting solution.
8. Seventy percent isopropyl alcohol is used to flush all channels after disinfection and water rinsing as the last step in the reprocessing procedure.
9. After completion of reprocessing, GI endoscopes are the same in hospitals, clinics, offices, or ambulatory settings.
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