Shine on Flexible Endoscope Reprocessing - ASP Learning Lab
Shine on Flexible Endoscope Reprocessing

Shine on Flexible Endoscope Reprocessing

Carlos Palos, MD, Mr. David Bellamy, Cori Ofstead, MSPH, Mr. Rob Warburton, Monique Barakat, MD PhD, Eng. John Prendergast

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Endoscopic procedures are central to modern diagnostic and therapeutic care, with approximately 200 million procedures performed worldwide and integral to cancer screening programs¹⁻⁴. Despite these advantages, flexible endoscopes are among the most complex reusable medical devices to reprocess safely, and endoscope-transmitted infections, though underreported, remain a recognized complication with serious clinical and financial consequences⁵,⁶. ERCP carries particular risk, with post-procedure cholangitis occurring in 2–4% of cases and documented outbreaks of multidrug-resistant organisms, especially carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales⁷⁻¹⁰. Biofilm formation within endoscope channels further complicates reprocessing, reducing disinfectant efficacy and contributing to persistent contamination¹¹⁻¹⁵. Effective reprocessing therefore requires standardized, validated procedures at every stage — cleaning, high-level disinfection or sterilization, drying, storage, and traceable documentation¹⁶⁻¹⁸. As flexible endoscopy has evolved from simple diagnostic tools into complex therapeutic instruments, structural complexity has increased, making reprocessing more challenging¹⁹,²⁰. Addressing these challenges requires enhanced professional expertise, optimized reprocessing units, reconsideration of current classification frameworks, and, where feasible, evaluation of sterilization strategies²¹⁻²⁵. Thorough manual cleaning is foundational to infection prevention, removing organic debris, reducing bioburden, and preventing early biofilm formation²⁶⁻²⁹, with international standards emphasizing pre-cleaning at the point of use within 15 minutes of the procedure¹⁶,³⁰⁻³².

 

Inside the eBook, you’ll learn about:

  • The scale and clinical significance of endoscope-transmitted infections (ETIs)
  • Why flexible endoscopes, especially duodenoscopes used in ERCP, pose elevated reprocessing risk
  • How biofilm formation undermines standard disinfection protocols
  • The essential steps of validated reprocessing: cleaning, disinfection/sterilization, drying, storage, and documentation
  • How endoscope complexity has evolved and what that means for reprocessing standards
  • Strategic priorities for reducing infection risk, including workforce training and classification reform

 

Reasons to download the eBook:

  • Understand the real-world risks tied to endoscope reprocessing failures
  • Get an evidence-based breakdown of where current protocols fall short
  • Learn practical, guideline-aligned steps to strengthen your reprocessing workflow
  • Access curated references from leading clinical and regulatory sources
  • Support infection prevention and patient safety initiatives at your institution
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Authors

  • David Bellamy

    David Bellamy

    Mr.

    Vice President- World Federation of Hospital Sterilization Sciences, Sterilizing Services Department Manager- NSW Health

  • Cori Ofstead

    Cori Ofstead

    MSPH

    CEO at Ofstead & Associates, Inc.

  • Rob Warburton

    Rob Warburton

    MBA CMgrFCMI MIDSc Chtd

    Trust Decontamination Lead Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Institute of Decontamination Sciences, Director of Communication & Chairman IDSc Midlands Branch.

  • Monique Barakat

    Monique Barakat

    MD PhD

    Associate Professor of Pediatrics & Medicine Divisions of Pediatric and Adult Gastroenterology and Hepatology

  • John Prendergast

    John Prendergast

    Eng.

    uthorized Engineer (Decontamination) Principal Decontamination Engineer – NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership Specialist Estates Services

  • Carlos Palos

    Carlos Palos

    MD.

    Internal Medicine & Intensive Care Specialist Infection Control & Antimicrobial Stewardship

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References

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