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O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | A P R I L 2 0 1 5
W
ith the recent outbreak of bacterial contamination traced
back to reprocessed duodenoscopes, there's been a big
push to ensure these hard-to-clean scopes are free from
debris. Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta, Ga., has been using a cheap
solution to clean their $30,000 scopes for years, says Karl Allen, RN,
BSN, CNML, the clinical manager of perioperative services.
After use, staff clean the scope bedside using water and a deter-
gent. They then hand the scope off to the endoscope reprocessing
department. There, a tech uses a nylon brush similar to a toothbrush
to meticulously clean the scope, scrubbing around the end of the
scope, especially in and around the elevator, a notoriously difficult
spot that can harbor bacteria.
T i p s , t r e n d s a n d n e w s y o u c a n u s e
S U R G E O N S ' L O U N G E
Piedmont
Healthcare
z HARD-TO-CLEAN The elevator of the duodeno-
scope is difficult to clean. Piedmont Healthcare
uses a nylon brush to get the job done.
A Cheap Way to Clean Your Duodenoscopes
T O O T H B R U S H T R I C K