Major articleCurrent issues result in a paradigm shift in reprocessing medical and surgical instruments

- Outbreaks associated with improper reprocessing of medical instruments and flexible endoscopes have highlighted the importance of cleaning.
- FDA now requires manufacturer's to validate cleaning instructions in their reprocessing instructions.
- The cleaning benchmarks are the same for any medical device regardless of whether it will receive high-level-disinfection or sterilization.
- A Quality System approach needs to be implemented when reprocessing medical devices.
- Sites should undertake audits to determine their current gaps in reprocessing of intra-cavitary ultrasound probes and flexible endoscopes as there have recent publications indicating increased risk of infection transmission associated with these specific medical devices.

The objective of this report is to review the available scientific data on reprocessing of medical and surgical instruments and discuss the current issues related to cleaning and disinfection of flexible endoscopes and intracavitary ultrasound probes.