Endoscope Reprocessing

Endoscopic diagnostics and therapeutics increasingly are replacing invasive surgical procedures and are being performed in ambulatory and inpatient settings. Cleaning and disinfection of endoscopes and their accessories is complex and must be performed according to U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling and manufacturer instructions.

MDH staff are available for consultation if breaches in endoscope reprocessing are identified. Endoscope reprocessing breaches can expose patients to viral and bacterial pathogens and must be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

• MDH Memo: Inadequate Endoscope Reprocessing (PDF)
  1/12/2012 Message recommending that health care facilities conduct a thorough assessment of the reprocessing procedures and practices for all endoscopes and endoscopic accessories.
• Poster: Key Endoscope Reprocessing Steps (PDF: 86KB/1 page)
  Educational poster to display key steps for effective endoscope reprocessing.

Additional Resources

• ASGE-SHEA Guideline: Multisociety Guideline for Reprocessing Flexible GI Endoscopes: 2011 (PDF)
  Multisociety guideline for endoscope reprocessing for use by all health care facilities where endoscopic procedures are performed. The guideline includes critical reprocessing steps (including cleaning and drying) and reprocessing issues for various endoscope attachments.
• Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings: Minimum Expectations for Safe Care
  CDC infection prevention recommendations for outpatient (ambulatory care) settings. Ambulatory care includes facilities where patients do not remain overnight (e.g., hospital-based outpatient clinics, non-hospital based clinics and physician offices, urgent care centers, ambulatory surgical centers, public health clinics, imaging centers, oncology clinics, ambulatory behavioral health and substance abuse clinics, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers).
• Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008 (PDF)
  2008 CDC guideline for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of patient-care medical devices and the health care environment.
• Reprocessing endoscopes: United States perspective (PDF)
  

  Endoscope reprocessing recommendations published by Rutala, WA and Weber, DJ.