Do I have to preclean? Why is it so important to reduce dried blood and soils on endoscopes and other devices at the point of care?

Blood and other soils will dry on instruments and inside channels of devices and start the formation of biofilm and corrosion within minutes after the end of a procedure. Endoscopy nurses have a short window to take action BEFORE sending scopes and instruments to the processing area. Scope manufacturer instructions plus guidelines from SGNA, AORN, AAMI and other professional groups have targeted precleaning as an important action.**

 

** SGNA Standards of Infection Prevention in Reprocessing Flexible Gastrointestinal Endoscopes 2018

** ANSI/A AMI ST91:2015

** Multi-Society Guideline on Reprocessing Flexible GI Endoscopes, 2016