3 3
A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 | O U T P AT 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
• failed to pre-clean endoscopes before reprocessing,
• failed to perform or allow an adequate duration of high-level disin-
fection,
• used expired disinfectants,
• let endoscopes dry before they were cleaned,
• inadequately brushed channels or skipped channel-cleaning entire-
ly,
• improperly cleaned the elevator component of duodenoscopes,
• improperly stored contaminated endoscopes,
• incorrectly programmed AERs,
• were unaware of, or failed to report, malfunctioning AERs, and
• insufficiently documented staff competencies to perform endo-
scope processing.
Although the pace
of reprocessing at a
busy endoscopy prac-
tice can be over-
whelming, there's
never an excuse for
lapses that could
expose patients or
personnel to danger-
ous health care-asso-
ciated pathogens. OSM
The results are in. Contact Cygnus Medical to learn more.
WWW.CYGNUSMEDICAL.COM | 800.990.7489
Dr. Edmiston (cedmis-
to@mcw.edu) is profes-
sor emeritus of surgery
and director of the
Surgical Microbiology
Research Laboratory at
the Medical College of
Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
