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CC BY 4.0 · Endosc Int Open 2025; 13: a25274224
DOI: 10.1055/a-2527-4224
Editorial

Novel technology for automated cleaning of flexible endoscopes

Michelle J. Alfa
1   AlfaMed Consulting, Winnipeg, Canada
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Abstract

Reprocessing of flexible endoscopes is a multi-stage system with many sequential stages. Errors in any one of the stages can result in microbial contamination that persists in patient ready endoscopes despite full reprocessing. One stage that is especially prone to errors is the manual cleaning of channels and exterior surfaces of flexible endoscopes. This editorial discusses the current factors in manual cleaning that lead to errors in cleaning adequacy. It also reviews novel technologies that provide improvements in cleaning of flexible endoscope channels.

Keywords

Pancreatobiliary (ERCP/PTCD) - Quality and logistical aspects - Quality management - Hygiene


Publication History

Received: 15 January 2025

Accepted: 25 January 2025

Article published online:
14 March 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

Refers to:

Evaluation of a Novel Water-Based Automated Endoscope Cleaning Process Compared to Conventional Manual Cleaning for Reducing Duodenoscope ContaminatioEndosc Int Open eFirst
DOI: 10.1055/a-2536-8061

Bibliographical Record
Michelle J. Alfa. Novel technology for automated cleaning of flexible endoscopes. Endosc Int Open 2025; 13: a25274224.
DOI: 10.1055/a-2527-4224
 

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