The website of the Clinical Services Journal

The next, brushless step in endoscope reprocessing

In this article, Pentax Medical explains how a new brushless solution could offer an alternative to manual pre-cleaning, while addressing hygiene and sustainability challenges faced in daily clinical practice.

Endoscopy continues to witness a number of important innovations that contribute to even better clinical outcomes. At the same time, there are still significant opportunities for further improving patient safety and infection prevention in the field. Given the constantly changing environment of medical device reprocessing, which is marked by a heightened consciousness of the overall environmental impact of healthcare and endoscopy, coupled with a shortage of hospital staff following COVID-19, the need to enhance the decontamination of endoscopes has become increasingly critical.

Reusable and semi-disposable endoscopes are advanced devices with multiple lumens and narrow channels. They are often used in standard endoscopic procedures, such as routine gastrointestinal examinations or bronchoscopies, where risk of infection is lower and patient throughput is higher. Infection risk is considered lower in these procedures because endoscopes come into contact with intact mucous membranes but do not ordinarily penetrate sterile tissue.1

If the infection risk is lower, it is not inexistant – infections can stem from several sources, from staff clothing to floor and surface cleaning but also from the equipment used during procedures if it is handled inexpertly. The reprocessing of endoscopes is required after each procedure to ensure the contaminated instruments are safe for reuse.2 

Log in or register FREE to read the rest

This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text. If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.
Register

Upcoming Events

Continence Care and Tissue Viability Conference

Grand Station Wolverhampton
21 June 2023

Hygiene and sustainability in endoscopy: finding the balance

Online Event
Thursday 22nd June 2023

EBME Expo 2023

Judds Lane, Coventry, England, GB, CV6 6
28th - 29th June 2023

AfPP Annual Conference 2023

University of York
10- 13 August 2023

MEDICA - Leading International Trade Fair

Schadowstraße 49, 40212 Düsseldorf, Germany
13- 16 November 2023

Future Surgery

Excel Centre London
14 - 15 November 2023

Access the latest issue of Clinical Services Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Clinical Services Journal app from your device's App store

Upcoming Events

Continence Care and Tissue Viability Conference

Grand Station Wolverhampton
21 June 2023

Hygiene and sustainability in endoscopy: finding the balance

Online Event
Thursday 22nd June 2023

EBME Expo 2023

Judds Lane, Coventry, England, GB, CV6 6
28th - 29th June 2023

AfPP Annual Conference 2023

University of York
10- 13 August 2023

MEDICA - Leading International Trade Fair

Schadowstraße 49, 40212 Düsseldorf, Germany
13- 16 November 2023

Future Surgery

Excel Centre London
14 - 15 November 2023

Access the latest issue of Clinical Services Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Clinical Services Journal app from your device's App store

Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR
Tel: 01892 779999 Fax: 01892 616177
www.step-communications.com
© 2023 Step Communications Ltd. Registered in England. Registration Number 3893025