Review
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Gastrointest Endosc. Sep 16, 2014; 6(9): 390-406
Published online Sep 16, 2014. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v6.i9.390
Table 6 Practical tips to ensure optimal cleaning of flexible endoscopes
Clinical practice tipMajor advantageRef.
Clean promptly after useNo drying of organic material such as blood[77,207]
Follow the instructions of the endoscope manufacturer as closely as possible (e.g., type of brush or cleaning adapter)Optimum cleaning of an entire channel
Prefer washer disinfectors with a monitoring system indicating channel blockageA blocked channel cannot be cleaned adequately and is immediately identified; targeted brush cleaning may be necessary
Do not switch off the monitoring system for detection of blocked channelsChannels may be blocked and inadequately cleaned; personnel may not detect blocked channels with all possible implications for patient safety
Support by gastroenterologistIt is strongly recommended that the clinician fully understands the cleaning and disinfection steps and does not inhibit his or her staff's ability to perform them correctly[240]
Allow external audits by local health authorities on the quality of processing including cleaningImplementation of guidelines may be more successful if the local health authorities visit the endoscopy units and compare current practices with the relevant guidelines. This effect seems to be more easily achieved in in-patient rather than in out-patient endoscopy units[241-243]