Endoscopes and endoscopy equipment are widely used for early diagnosis of lethal diseases including
cancer and also provide for treatment of tumors and cancers among other acute
or chronic diseases. The sophisticated endoscopic equipment is inserted through the nose, anus or through
an incision that is made in the skin, in the body of the patient. A
contaminated endoscope can be a cause of a number of medical conditions and
diseases. It must be stored in a sterile
and hygienic condition and should be carefully decontaminated after its use. Below
are some tips that will help you to decontaminate your endoscope.
Quality
All of the examination and diagnosis processes must be
controlled by quality systems that are ISO certified. One example is the BS
EN1SO medical device certification. The equipment
should also be used in full accordance with the instructions provided by the
manufacturer.
Staff Training
All of the medical staff, including the new staff that is
involved in the endoscope decontamination process,
should be trained well and fully. The training procedure must also be regularly
updated.
Compatibility
Never re-process the devices that are designed and
manufactured for single use. Check that the decontamination equipment and the
decontamination processes of the hospital are fully compatible with each other.
Identification
Make a checklist and identify all kinds of endoscopes and other
decontamination equipment that are being used in the hospital or clinic. Also, ensure that only correct and well-supervised
decontamination processes are being used. All endoscopes should be traced back
to the individual patient on whom they have been used.
Channel Connection
Check the number of inbuilt
channels that each endoscope has and also ensure that they can be well connected
to automatic re-processors or the washer
disinfector. All channels of an endoscope must be flushed, even if a channel has
not been used during an examining or treatment procedure.
Chemical Compatibility
Only use chemicals that are compatible with the endoscope,
with the automatic re-processor and with the accessories of the endoscope. Use
the chemicals at their correct temperature, concentration and at accurate contact
times.
Preventive Maintenance
Have records of all the endoscopes and their usage and also
record the usage of decontamination equipment. Make the record making process a
regular one and also opt for well-planned and preventive maintenance.
You can keep the endoscopic equipment in their right decontaminated and hygienic state by following
these simple tips.
