Featured Articles: Storage & Documentation

Health care facilities follow detailed guidelines for endoscope cleaning and disinfection but there’s less guidance when it comes to storage. How to select among the variety of solutions that are available?

Three lines of cabinets have variable sizes and customization options, including channel-purging connectors and barcode technology to track employee access and endoscope hang times.

Despite all the information available through professional societies and the medical literature, developing endoscope drying and storage protocols can be challenging for hospitals. Guideline variations only add to the challenge.

Reprocessing endoscopes is a lengthy and complicated procedure, and the final steps are just as important as the first steps in guaranteeing patient safety. Extending the shelf life of endoscopes can save hospitals valuable time and money.

Researchers sought to determine if the type of storage cabinet—automated drying cabinet vs. standard drying cabinet—made a difference in reducing the risk of microbial growth and biofilm creation after reprocessing. Here’s what they found.