08/20/2025
Reprocessing flexible endoscopes is a challenging task due to their complex geometry, intricate lumens, and hard-to-reach crevices.
Recently, Cori Ofstead reported concerning statistics: in Q3 of 2024 alone, the FDA documented ๐,๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐-๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ. Of these, ๐,๐๐๐ were linked to patient safety issues, such as breaches in sterile processing, residual contamination, retained debris or accessories, infections, and injuries caused by defective scopes. Over the past year, this has totaled more than ๐๐,๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ!
Manual cleaning is universally acknowledged as a critical reprocessing step before high-level disinfection (HLD) or sterilization. The SGNA Standards of Infection Control in Reprocessing of Flexible Gastrointestinal Endoscopes state:
"๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ก๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐. ๐โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐."
SGNA, CSA and the manufacturers' IFUs call for the channels to be brushed until ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ โ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ . Clearly, the outcome of such visual inspections is ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ and influenced by factors such as lighting, operator fatigue, ergonomics, workflow pressures, etc.
This highlights a critical question: ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ "๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐" ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐?
The answer and the solution is adopting validated devices and processes that ensure consistent, reliable cleaning outcomes, as mandated by the ๐๐๐๐/๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐:๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐.
๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ยฎ, PriMed Instruments Inc.โs channel cleaning device, is a validated channel cleaning tool which efficacy meets and exceeds ๐๐๐๐:๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐'๐ฌ requirements.
Independent tests demonstrate that a single swipe of ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ยฎ through fully inoculated channels achieves residual contamination levels far below the ANSI/AAMI ST98:2022 minimum acceptance criteriaโby an order of magnitude.
Please see validation here: https://hubs.ly/Q03CXg6W0
Request free samples here: https://hubs.ly/Q03CXcRQ0
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