ABSTRACT

Flexible fiberoptic endoscopes (FFE) are sophisticated reusable medical equipment (RME) used to identify and evaluate the function of internal organs and cavities, and to locate and biopsy tumors in them. FFEs have lighted cameras that allow visual examination and may have internal channels for the application of suction, delivery of air or water, and for biopsy and other operative procedures. See Figure 1 for a diagram of an example endoscope. Once the tube is inserted into the body, it is exposed to various pathogens and potentially harmful bacteria. Before reuse, endoscopes must undergo a decontamination process to remove these microorganisms so the next patient is not exposed to them. There are over 20 million gastroenterology (GI) endoscopic procedures performed annually in the United States (Everhart, 2008). It is estimated that infections associated with GI endoscopy occur at a rate of 1 in almost 2 million procedures (Schembre, 2000) and that the source of these infections is either failure to follow established reprocessing guidelines, or use of defective equipment (ASGE Quality Assurance in Endoscopy Committee, 2011).