Using a Borescope to Inspect and Teach the Cleanliness of Endoscopes in SPD

 

Martin Li, MA, CRCST, CER, CIS, CHL

Introduction

When you look outside, what do you see? Trees, buildings, maybe even the shapes of clouds. At night, the sky is filled with stars and the moon. It's incredible how we can see objects from great distances. But it's just as amazing when we can't see what's right in front of us. Germs and bacteria are right there, invisible to the naked eye.

Ever cleaned a surgical instrument and noticed a tiny stain? Stains come in different shapes, sizes, and intensities. This is relevant when cleaning medical instruments like endoscopes in Sterile Processing Departments (SPD).

Endoscopes are crucial tools with intricate designs and narrow channels that make them tough to clean. Despite thorough manual cleaning, invisible contaminants might remain, posing risks to patient safety. This is where the borescope becomes invaluable in the SPD.

The Role of the Borescope

A borescope is a nifty tool that lets SPD techs visually inspect the interior channels of endoscopes. Unlike the naked eye, a borescope can spot residual bioburden and other hidden contaminants. Using a borescope ensures no residue is left behind after cleaning.

Enhancing Patient Safety

The main goal of any SPD is to ensure patient safety by providing clean, sterile instruments. Even small residual bioburden can lead to infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. By adding borescope inspections to the cleaning protocol, SPDs can significantly cut the risk of infections, ensuring that endoscopes are contaminant-free[1].

Improving Cleaning Protocols

Using a borescope helps in spotting contaminants and refining cleaning protocols. By identifying where contaminants usually hide, SPD educators can create targeted training programs to address these issues. This continuous improvement cycle ensures top-notch cleanliness standards [2].

Educational Value

For SPD educators, a borescope is a powerful teaching tool. It provides real-time visual evidence of endoscope cleanliness, making training more effective. Visual demonstrations help techs understand the importance of thorough cleaning and the potential consequences of slacking off.

Regulatory Compliance

Regulatory bodies are pushing for thorough cleaning and validation processes for medical instruments. Borescope inspections help SPDs comply with these regulations by providing documented evidence of endoscope cleanliness. This documentation is crucial during audits and inspections, ensuring the facility meets all necessary standards.

In conclusion, just as we marvel at the vast universe and the details we can see from afar, we must also be vigilant about the microscopic world. The borescope is an essential tool in the SPD arsenal, ensuring endoscopes are contaminant-free and safe for patient use. By incorporating borescope inspections, SPDs can enhance patient safety, improve cleaning protocols, provide effective training, and ensure regulatory compliance.

Reference

1. Taurasi, R (2020), https://www.hpnonline.com/sterile-processing/article/21163035/inspection-of-cannulated-devices-cleaning-of-personal-items-arm-covering-in-spd
2. savvyaviation.com - Savvy's Borescope Initiative