AORN’s Four Revised Guidelines to Improve Flexible Endoscope Safety

AORN’s Four Revised Guidelines to Improve Flexible Endoscope Safety

PREVENTING INFECTION

AORN has issued four new guidelines for processing flexible endoscopes calling for improved communication with decontamination staff, more rigorous testing before sterilization or HLD and more thorough drying procedures.

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Experts Debate Single-Use Duodenoscope Accessories

Preventing Infection

They agree on one thing: the design of reusable duodenoscopes make them to hard to clean correctly.

Single-use rhinolaryngoscopes surpassed their reusable counterparts when it comes to organizational benefits.

Performing Procedures

Clinicians perceived single-use rhinolaryngoscopes as having organizational advantages over their reusable counterparts.

A full team of stakeholders should participate when it comes to making a purchasing decision about a reusable vs. single-use endoscope.

Public Health

Amber Wood, AORN's senior perioperative practice specialist, emphasizes the need to include educators and to weigh cost, environmental impact, and maintenance when choosing between single-use and reusable endoscopes.