Discussions in Infection Control

An independent site by Lawrence F Muscarella PhD -- a national authority on the causes and prevention of healthcare-associated infections and related errors.

Category: Intermediate-Level Disinfection

Central Sterile Processing Cystoscopes Flexible "ENT" Laryngoscopes Healthcare-Acquired Infections High-Level Disinfection Instrument Reprocessing Intermediate-Level Disinfection Low-Level Disinfection Noncritical Semicritical Devices Sheaths

The Reprocessing of Sheathed “ENT” Endoscopes, Cystoscopes, and Other Types of Flexible Endoscopes

May 17, 2013 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

A number of years ago this blog’s founder – Dr. Lawrence F Muscarella – wrote the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting the Agency review for clarity and consistency, among…

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Flexible "ENT" Laryngoscopes Food and Drug Administration High-Level Disinfection Infection Prevention Instrument Reprocessing Intermediate-Level Disinfection Semicritical Devices Sheaths

The Partial Immersion of a Flexible Endoscope in the Disinfectant?

December 10, 2012 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

There are two rules of thumbs (among others), in particular, that are apropos to questions about whether a flexible “ENT” endoscope, like any other type of flexible endoscope, may be…

Disease Transmission Disinfection High-Level Disinfection Infection Prevention Instrument Reprocessing Intermediate-Level Disinfection Low-Level Disinfection Noncritical Rigid Laryngoscopes Semicritical Devices

Reprocessing the Handles of Rigid Laryngoscopes

December 6, 2012 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

October 16, 2012 — Published guidelines classify the blades of rigid laryngoscopes (used for intubation) as semi-critical devices that require cleaning followed by high-level disinfection (or sterilization) after each use.(3,13-15)…

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Adverse Event Reports Candida auris Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Duodenoscopes Endoscope Reprocessing Escherichia coli Gastroscopes MAUDE Medical Device Reports (MDRs) Risk Assessment Single-Use Disposable Devices

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