CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Endosc Int Open 2021; 09(11): E1627-E1632
DOI: 10.1055/a-1535-1238
Original article

Accreditation program for gastrointestinal endoscopes reprocessing in Italy: An on-site survey

Giancarlo Spinzi
1   Gasastroenterology and Endoscopy Department, Valduce Hospital, Como – Italy
,
Angelo Milano
2   Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Department, Chieti University, Chieti – Italy
,
Piero Brosolo
3   Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Department, Pordenone Hospital, Pordenone – Italy
,
Paola Da Massa Carrara
4   Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Department, Pistoia Hospital, Pistoia – Italy
,
Maurizio Labardi
5   Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Department, Firenze Hospital, Firenze – Italy
,
Alberto Merighi
6   Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Department, Ferrara Hospital, Ferrara – Italy
,
Luisa Riccardi
7   Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Department, Perugia Hospital, Perugia – Italy
,
Francesco Torresan
8   Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Department, Bologna University, Bologna – Italy
,
Maurizio Capelli
9   Kiwa-Cermet Statistical Department, Bologna-Italy
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Background and study aims Endoscope reprocessing has been associated with a variable failure rate. Our aim was to present an overview on current practices for reprocessing in Italian facilities and discuss the principle critical points.

Methods In 2014 the Italian Society for Digestive Diseases implemented an accreditation program in collaboration with an independent organization for certification and with the Italian Association for Endoscopy Technical Operators. During a 1-day site visit of the endoscopy center, two endoscopists, one nurse, and the representative of the certification body evaluated the endoscope reprocessing.

Results As of July 1, 2020, 28 endoscopy centers had been accredited. Ten centers are completing the measures to correct deficiencies found at the visit. Three centers withdrew from the program. The accreditation program has found variations between the various centers, confirming the poor compliance with guidelines. Major deviations from the standards, established by the model before the site visit according to national and international guidelines, concerned instrument cleaning (44.7 % of the centers), instrument storage (23.7 %), and microbiological tests (31.6 %).

Conclusions Our overview demonstrated the lack of many reprocessing phases, which are important to prevent endoscopy-associated infections. Accreditation can achieve a transformation in quality and safety of reprocessing with the Italian centrally-led approach.

Supplementary material



Publication History

Received: 26 December 2020

Accepted: 10 June 2021

Article published online:
12 November 2021

© 2021. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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