Daniel Collins warns that a lack of standardisation in the decontamination of endoscopes has led to varying standards at hospitals across the UK. He calls for a change of approach to reduce variation in standards and to ensure effective endoscope reprocessing.
The different ways endoscopes are decontaminated by clinical staff across the country - using different techniques, chemicals, strengths, water types and locations to do so - could lead to inconsistent decontamination or damage to endoscopes, which in turn causes delays to treatment and costing more time and money than it should.
The standardisation of endoscope decontamination processes is long overdue and, if rolled out, could improve staff efficiency and patient experience as well as bring commercial benefits to the clinical industry. Serchem is encouraging departments to standardise their approach to bedside cleaning with the use of a purpose made pre-cleaning kit.
As clinical staff and patients depend on a clean and safe environment, this should be a priority and a non-enzymatic detergent which has complete compatibility with all makes of scopes can ensure these needs are met.
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