Yale
New Haven Hospital
QISS
GB 325
New Haven, CT
06504 USA
Dr. Jeff Topal
688-4634
Cleaning and Reprocessing of Flexible GI Endoscopes, pg7
6) Rinse after Manual Disinfection
Thoroughly rinse all surfaces and channels of the endoscope and its removable parts with large amounts of clean water.
Rinsing prevents exposure and potential injury of skin and mucous membranes from chemical residue.
7) Drying
Purge all channels with air.
Bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common contaminant of tap water, and fungi can multiply in a moist environment.
Avoid the use of excessively high air pressure. High-pressure air can damage the internal channels of flexible GI endoscopes.
Flush all channels, including accessory channels, with alcohol until the alcohol can be seen exiting the opposite end of each channel.
70 to 80% isopropyl alcohol is used as a solvent to assist in drying the interior channel surfaces. Alcohol mixes with the remaining water on the channel surfaces and acts to encourage evaporation of the residual water as air flows through the channel.
Use fresh alcohol that has been properly stored in a closed container between uses. Alcohol, when exposed to air, rapidly evaporates, and if below the recommended percentage level, cannot be relied upon to assist in the drying process.
Alcohol purges should be used even when sterile water is used for rinsing.
Purge all channels with air.
Air assists alcohol in evaporating any retained moisture.
Remove all channel adapters.
Dry the exterior of the endoscope with a soft, clean lint-free towel.
Thoroughly rinse and dry all removable parts. Do not attach removable parts (valves, etc.) to the endoscope during storage.
Storage of endoscopes with the removable parts detached lowers the risk of trapping liquid inside the instrument and facilitates continued drying of the channels and channel openings.
8) Storage
Hang the endoscope vertically with the distal tip hanging freely in a well-ventilated, dust-free cabinet.
Correct storage of the GI endoscope will prevent damage to the exterior of the device by protecting the device from physical impact.
A storage cabinet with good ventilation will encourage continued air drying of the surfaces and prevent undue moisture buildup in the cabinet interior, thereby discouraging any microbial contamination of the cabinet surfaces.
