Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008
- Monitor adherence to high-level disinfection and/or sterilization guidelines for endoscopes on a regular basis. This monitoring should include ensuring the proper training of persons performing reprocessing and their adherence to all endoscope reprocessing steps, as demonstrated by competency testing at commencement of employment and annually.
- Develop a mechanism for the occupational health service to report all adverse health events potentially resulting from exposure to disinfectants and sterilants; review such exposures; and implement engineering, work practice, and PPE to prevent future exposures.
- Monitor possible sterilization failures that resulted in instrument recall. Assess whether additional training of personnel or equipment maintenance is required. 94
The authors gratefully acknowledge Eva P. Clontz, M.S., for her assistance in referencing this guideline. The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee thanks the following experts for reviewing a draft of this guideline: Martin S. Favero, Ph.D., Syed A. Sattar, Ph.D., A. Denver Russell, D.Sc., and Martin Exner, M.D. The opinions of the reviewers might not be reflected in all the recommendations contained in this document.