Correction of deficiencies in flexible fiberoptic sigmoidoscope cleaning and disinfection technique in family practice and internal medicine offices.
To assess whether deficiencies exist in the processing of contaminated flexible fiberoptic sigmoidoscopes in family practice and internal medicine offices and whether training of office personnel results in a correction of identified deficiencies, we conducted a prospective review of sigmoidoscope processing in family practice and internal medicine offices before and after a training course. Participants were questioned on their current endoscope processing for 17 standards before and 2 months after receiving training. The 19 offices had between 4 and 11 deficiencies per office before training, with an average of 6.8 deficiencies per office. After training, deficiencies ranged from 0 to 8, with an average of 0.9 deficiencies per office (P < or = .001; Student t test). Personnel responsible for processing flexible sigmoidoscopes in family practice and internal medicine offices are insufficiently trained for this function. Endoscopes are not being processed according to current standards. After a 2-hour training period, these persons maintain their equipment close to or according to standards.
Jackson
F W
FW
West Shore Endoscopy Center, Camp Hill, Pa., USA.
Ball
M D
MD
D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000193:education*; D010824:Physicians' Offices / Q000592:standards*; D020694:Sigmoidoscopes