KEEPING UP WITH THE CONTAMINATIONS – ISSUE NO. 453

The single most important step, and among the most challenging for Endoscopy and SPD staff to do, is keep a reprocessed instrument clean and keep it from being contaminated when being handled. One activity in particular that comes to mind is drying endoscopes. According to manufacturer IFUs, sterile wipes are recommended after manual high-level disinfection, after removal from an automated endoscope reprocessor (AER), to cover the distal tip of the endoscope during alcohol/air flush, or to dry the basin and connectors of an AER. Sterile Wipes, manufactured from a synergistic blend of virgin polyester and cellulose that is hydroentangled into a uniform, ultra-durable fabric are designed for healthcare workers to dry endoscopes and associated equipment. Using sterile wipes that are validated sterile, abrasion resistant and non-linting will help prevent cross contamination.