STERILE PROCESSING
small-lumen devices including bronchoscopes, cystoscopes and robotic devices. The channels in these important devices provide an unfortunate opportunity for residual organisms and moisture, both of which can reduce the effectiveness of later reprocessing steps or even cause a processing cycle to abort.”
Richard Radford, CEO, Cenorin LLC
More costly but necessary “AAMI ST 91 is going to cost healthcare institutions more money and take more time to process scopes because reprocessed endoscopes require proper handling from point of use, through
ENDOSCOPE SPOTLIGHTS
Maximize Image Quality with HD Endoscopes
Aesculap’s Laparoscopes and Arthroscopes are manufactured using the latest in endoscopic optics technology, ensuring opti- mal performance for the surgeon and operating room staff. Our endoscope products come with an industry standard eyepiece that is compatible with all camera systems.
AESCULAP
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Washer-Pasteurizer/ High Level Disinfectors
Cenorin’s 610 provides safe and effec- tive automated cleaning and high-level disinfection using a full immersion pas- teurization process. They are intended for reprocessing semi-critical and non- critical reusable medical devices in re- spiratory care, sleep labs, and others.
CENORIN
https://cenorin.com/
index.html#products
Properly dried instrument channels reduce the risk of infection
The Airtime Channel Dryer uses .01 micron HEPA fi ltered air to dry air/water, suction, and auxiliary water channels after automated reprocessing. It dry two scopes simultane- ously, with independent start and stop times. Line pressure sensors will shut off the Airtime pump and alert the user of a clogged channel. Line pressure levels can be adjusted for vari- ous instruments. Two models available; Vari- able Flow Rate Unit (VFR100) and External Air Supply Unit (ATEAS01).
CYGNUS MEDICAL
www.cygnusmedical.com
all cleaning steps, and on to transport for use. This is how we make sure we’re doing everything we can to provide properly reprocessed scopes that are safe to use on patients. “Healthcare personnel understand that reprocessing is not a
100% guarantee that scopes will truly be patient- ready, despite the best efforts of the reprocessing staff. Infections by cross-contamination are rare, but patients are aware they are possible and have begun requesting single-use devices. I believe standardization of the guidance in han- dling these scopes will have a positive impact on performance, quality and workfl ow. PD personnel are already used to working with certain standards and processes, so this standard is an enhance- ment to what they pretty much already do. “Some of the important enhancements of AAMI ST91:
Sharon Ward-Fore
• Guidance on transportation of scopes (how to keep the devices from drying during transport).
• Manual disinfection is no longer recommended due to the vari- ability/inconsistency personnel responsible for the process.
• Point-of-use treatment (formerly precleaning), cleaning and delayed reprocessing guidance.
• ignifi cant revisions to leak test guidance, including the regular testing of automated leak testers.
• Added a designation of ‘high-risk’ endoscopes. • Strengthened wording on which scopes should be sterilized and which can be high-level disinfected.
• Guidance that single-use biopsy port caps and valves should be used when available and reusable ones should undergo sterilization or HD after use.
• ecommends formal training and competency verifi cation ahead of a technicians fi rst solo reprocessing assignment, as well as certifi cation for all personnel in fl exible endoscope processing.
• Requires monitoring HVAC systems and water quality for automated endoscope reprocessors.”
Sharon Ward-Fore, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC, Infection Prevention Advisor, Envista
‘Wake-up call to action’ “The overall ‘call to action’ inherent in the new ST91 is purpose- ful embedding of quality control at multiple steps of processing endoscopes. ignifi cant effort was made to ensure this was a user-focused document, providing guidance on best practices to enable quality processing – and, in turn, protect patients. Clinical investigations and research from recent years guided the recommendations and serve as the sobering ‘wake-up call’ for why such recommendations are necessary. “Notable areas of focus in the new standard include:
• Emphasis on certifi cation, training, and competencies • Management of “high-risk endoscopes” • Enhanced visual inspection, cleaning verification, bore- scopic inspection
• Recommendations against manual disinfection • Active drying post processing • Appropriate physical space considerations • Quality control for manual as well as automated processes • Monitoring water quality • Multidisciplinary risk assessments
“For those facilities previously lacking such embedded qual-
ity control steps, fi rst impressions may be that any additional steps add to turnround time and costs. However, unless we look, we will not know; and unless we measure, we cannot evaluate how we are doing. Those are basic principles behind
24 November 2022 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS •
hpnonline.com
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