One Liners issue 29 - September 2004

Scope for improvement?
Flexible and rigid endoscopes are used increasingly throughout many hospital departments. A Medical Device Alert was recently issued (MDA/2004/028) as a result of inadequate endoscope decontamination practices. This special edition of One Liners attempts to highlight some of the issues relating to the safe use and decontamination in using endoscopes so as to minimise the risk of infection.

Clean Sweep!
Equipment required

• Purchase only endoscopes that are compatible with the existing hospital decontamination processes, including compatibility with the washer disinfectors.

Wash and Brush Up!
Monitor and control

• Use only validated processes to decontaminate endoscopes and ensure that all equipment is operated and controlled in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Channel Number 5?
Procedures

• Check the number of channels in each endoscope and ensure that all channels of the endoscope and any accessories are cleaned and disinfected after every use in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Take Stock
Maintenance

• Regular planned preventative maintenance should be carried out and appropriate records kept on each endoscope reprocessor.

Bleach of the Peace
Scope of action

• Throughout the decontamination process use only chemicals that are compatible with the endoscopes and their accessories.

Loud Listers!
Inventory

• Identify all endoscopes and reprocessors used in the hospital to ensure they are being maintained correctly and that the correct decontamination process is being used.

Published by the MHRA, an executive agency of the Department of Health. The MHRA was formed from a merger of the Medical Devices Agency (MDA) and the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) on 1 April 2003. If you would like to discuss or report an incident involving a device, contact us on: 020 7972 8123 (medical), 8128 (nursing) or e-mail: devices@mhra.gsi.gov.uk