title: Decontamination methods for flexible nasal endoscopes.
abstract: A national survey was carried out to investigate the current UK practice for decontaminating flexible nasal endoscopes. A postal questionnaire was sent to Sisters in Charge of 200 ear, nose and throat (ENT) outpatient departments in the UK, with an overall response rate of 60.5%. Decontamination with chlorine dioxide wipes was the most favoured method, used in 58% of the hospitals that participated in this survey. Automated machines were also used in many places (34%). Only a few hospitals used flexible sheaths (7%). Many departments do not use a separate protocol for high-risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Specialty Trainee, Department of ENT, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Gloucester.
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Javed
authors.forename: Salil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sood
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Banfield
mesh_terms: D004203:Disinfection; D019723:Endoscopes / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology*; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Automated machines; Chemical wipes; Decontamination; Disinfection; Flexible nasal endoscope