Course Description
Endoscope cleaning is essential to the health and safety of patients and is paramount in preventing the spread of infection. Endoscopes are complex instruments with many different small channels and parts. Endoscope cleaning protocols help to provide standardized, thorough instructions for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization. This course is designed to help the learner better understand these protocols and the importance of the process as a whole. The course will also identify challenges and common pitfalls in the cleaning process, as well as the danger of bacterial and viral exposure.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the course, the learner will be able to:
- Explain the danger of bacterial or viral exposure, and specifically, explain the dangers of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).
- Describe the flexible endoscope and list its many components.
- Outline the endoscope cleaning/processing protocol and best practices.
- Describe the challenges of flexible endoscope cleaning/processing and common protocol breaches.
Intended Audience
This educational activity was developed for central sterile technicians, sterile processing, and nursing professionals.
CE Information
This course is approved for 1.0 contact hours by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, Inc. (CBSPD), the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA), and the Florida and California State Boards of Nursing.
Course Authors
This course was written by Cynthia Spry, RN, MA, MS.
Cynthia holds both MA and MS degrees in Education & Nursing, with over 30 years of experience in the field of surgical services with a focus on sterilization and disinfection. Cynthia is a member of APIC, IAHCSMM, and AORN, where she was a past national president. She has authored over 75 publications, two nursing texts, and was the lead author for three AORN evidence-based guidelines. She has globally presented seminars on many healthcare-related topics. Cynthia is also a member of several AAMI Working Groups writing and updating recommended practices, including co-chairing the committee responsible for the ST79 Comprehensive Guide to Steam Sterilization and Sterility Assurance in Health Care Facilities.