Overview of infection control problems: principles in gastrointestinal endoscopy.
The practice of flexible gastrointestinal endoscopy has matured significantly in recent years. Unfortunately, two long-standing problems still exist: the complex physical nature inherent to the endoscopes and accessories, and user compliance with established reprocessing guidelines. Improvements have been made, but newer instruments remain comparatively fragile, expensive, and physically complex, and validated data on reprocessing specific instruments is generally lacking. The practice of flexible gastrointestinal endoscopy today, however, is demonstrably safe and beneficial, provided established practice procedures for reprocessing, with emphasis on instrument cleaning, are followed meticulously in each endoscopy center.
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Consultant Microbiologist, Research Consulting Service Associates, Inc., Lawrenceville, Georgia 30044, USA.
D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000592:standards*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D014481:United States