Endoscopic Disinfection

Publication Date: April 1, 2019
Last Updated: March 14, 2022

Recommendations

Recommended changes to reprocessing and storage

Precleaning

— Precleaning must be carried out immediately after use.
6731

Cleaning

— Cleaning (manual or using an automatic flexible endoscope reprocessor (AFER) with an FDA or nationally approved cleaning cycle) must be carried out promptly* within 30 minutes after precleaning.
* “Promptly” in these guidelines means within 30 minutes.
6731

Disinfection

— After manual cleaning of the endoscope, machine or manual high-level disinfection must be undertaken promptly.
— Endoscopes should be thoroughly rinsed with bacteria-free water after disinfection.
6731

Alcohol flush and forced-air drying

— After disinfection by any means, the endoscope must have a prompt initial alcohol flush and forced-air drying for 10 minutes and storage in an approved forced-air storage/drying cabinet.
The endoscope may be used on another patient after the initial forced-air drying, but it must be placed in the storage cabinet if not immediately used for another patient procedure.
See below on drying cabinets.
6731

Overview

Title

Endoscopic Disinfection

Authoring Organization

World Gastroenterology Organisation