Sterile Processing Department Resources
Why is the visual inspection of lumens important?
The visual inspection of medical device lumens during reprocessing is widely recommended by all major professional healthcare associations and is one of the most critical steps in achieving increased patient safety. Each year, deadly infections continue to spread by way of dirty and contaminated endoscopes, causing great risk to patients and as well as to hospital systems and healthcare providers. In a 2018 study published in the American Journal of Infection Control, 71% of reusable medical scopes qualified as ready for use on patients tested positive for bacteria at three U.S. hospitals. Sterile Processing Department professionals work very hard to adhere to medical device manufacturers reprocessing IFU’s, however, there is simply no way to verify that a device lumen is undamaged and clear of bioburden, debris and moisture unless it is visually inspected.
List of Services
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Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC)List Item 1
Copyright © Centers For Disease Control and Prevention
Essential Elements of a Reprocessing Program for Flexible Endoscopes – Recommendations of the HICPAC
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Standards of Infection Control in Reprocessing of Flexible Gastrointestinal EndoscopesList Item 2
Copyright © Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, Inc. (SGNA)
Standards and guidelines for SPD reprocessing technicians
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Guideline Summary: Processing Flexible EndoscopesList Item 3
Copyright © AORN, Inc.
PURPOSE: To provide guidance to perioperative, endoscopy, and sterile-processing personnel for
processing all types of reusable flexible endoscopes and accessories.
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Multisociety guideline on reprocessing flexible GI endoscopes and accessoriesList Item 4
Copyright © American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
A comprehensive article with guidelines on reprocessing flexible GI endoscopes and accessories.
“The EndoInspect® brings efficiency to a new level of simplicity. I have never found a lumen inspection system with more capability or that is so easy to use.”
Dana R. / SPD Manager
“The EndoProcess system is the simply the best. No other product available on the market today can match either the visual clarity, or the ease of use of its advanced modular design. It just works!”
Mike P. / SPD Technician
“The EndoInspect® is a powerful all-in one visual inspection suite that combines an intuitive modular design with robust precision optics to offer users the best experience available on the market today..”
Dave S. / Medical Technologist
“We are seeing excellent value return with our use of the EndoInspect® system. Reprocessing issues are identified earlier and the image captures help with training”