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"This is done in a fresh sink full of water, to limit the amount of
splashing and the risk of debris coming in contact with our tech," says
Mr. Allen. "After that, we continue to follow the manufacturer's
instructions and society guidelines on duodenoscope reprocessing.
We reprocess scopes using an automated endoscope reprocessor and,
finally, hang them to dry in a closed, vented scope cabinet."
The idea to use the "toothbrush" to clean the tricky scopes came
from a longtime tech who found that the brush — which is used fre-
quently in central sterile processing — cleaned the scope better than
other options, says Mr. Allen.
The toothbrushes from Healthmark (No. 3181-P Nylon Brush) come
in packs of 10 and list for $1.15 apiece. While manufacturers often
supply brushes for cleaning the scopes, Piedmont has found that the
toothbrush's durable handle and tough nylon bristles can better scrub
the nooks and crannies.
— Kendal Gapinski
