title: Adverse staff health outcomes associated with endoscope reprocessing.
abstract: There are occupational challenges associated with cleaning, disinfecting, storing, and transporting flexible endoscopes. Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set standards to protect the safety of health workers in the United States, the standards are not specific to endoscope reprocessing, and the general standards that are in place are not fully implemented. Furthermore, adverse staff outcomes may not be fully preventable. To assess the evidence for adverse outcomes in staff associated with endoscope reprocessing, a literature review was performed in the PubMed database for articles on this topic published between Jan. 1, 2007 and March 7, 2012. Eight studies were identified, mainly European, which reported numerous adverse outcomes to healthcare personnel associated with endoscope reprocessing including respiratory ailments and physical discomfort. More scientifically rigorous studies are required to comprehensively describe adverse health outcomes in personnel engaged in reprocessing, particularly in the United States, and examine whether increased automation of the reprocessing process leads to decreased adverse health outcomes for staff.
authors.affiliation: Via Research, LLC, Princeton Junction, NJ, USA. egutterman@viaresearch.net
authors.forename: Elane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gutterman
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jorgensen
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fua
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000506:poisoning; D019723:Endoscopes / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017743:Equipment Reuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005976:Glutaral / Q000506:poisoning; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D005976:Glutaral