title: Reducing infection risk in colonoscopy.
abstract: Colonoscopy is a well recognized diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Endoscope reprocessing must be done correctly every time; a breach of protocol leading to transmission of infection has the potential to bring endoscopy to a halt. Standards exist that guide the practitioner in all health care settings to minimize the chance of transmission of infection. Safe injection practices and reprocessing of endoscopes using high-level disinfection and sterilization methods may help avert the risk of contracting possible infections during colonoscopy procedures.
authors.affiliation: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. dgreenwa@montefiore.org
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Greenwald
mesh_terms: D020685:Colonoscopes / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000592:standards; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000592:standards*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000592:standards; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D007267:Injections / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic