title: Methodology of reprocessing one-time use accessories.
abstract: The current climate of falling reimbursements has prompted evaluation of reusing single use (disposable) endoscopic accessories. A number of different accessories have undergone study of both function and sterility after reuse. These studies, albeit limited in number, do show that selected equipment can be sterilized without impairment of function. Nonetheless, despite the data, widespread adoption of accessory reuse remains hampered by lingering concerns over cross-contamination and medical and legal risks.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL 35294-0007, USA. mel_wilcox@gihep.uab.edu
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wilcox
mesh_terms: D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000592:standards; D020776:Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal / Q000382:microbiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods; D007239:Infections / Q000635:transmission; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States