According to Mark Duro (AORN; 2016) we can improve our medical device reprocessing through education and audits. In September 2015 the CDC (Centres for Disease Control) and the FDA in America issued a health advisory urging hospitals to assess their medical device decontamination processes. The focus point of this advisory was to ensure that all staff that are reprocessing medical devices have been adequately trained in reprocessing. According to the CDC and the FDA staff should be trained when they are first employed, when new devices are purchased, when manufactures instruction are changed (as is the case with duodenoscopes) and they should have a refresher course annually. This training should be hands-on as all staff need to physically demonstrate they are able to decontaminate particular devices. Although it is critical that staff have theoretical knowledge (for example knowledge gained from the CSSD Foundation Course sponsored by SafMed) it is equally as important that staff demonstrate physical competencies.
One way to ensure this is to compare how medical devices are actually reprocessed with the manufactures instructions for use. For example the MIFU for Stryker System 6 Rotary Handpiece stipulates that in order to clean the handpiece first remove the battery pack and attachment from the handpiece. Then use a stiff non-metallic bristle brush and hospital enzymatic cleaner to scrub debris from the handpiece and attachments, paying special attention to the seams, joints and the trigger. It also stipulates that the cannula must be cleaned using a bottle brush. It would be easy to compare how a device was actually cleaned to these clearly written instructions.
Routine auditing of medical device reprocessing is additional method that can be used to ensure correct medical device reprocessing. All audits should of course be done routinely, consistently, be documented and have action plans to remedy any inadequate reprocessing that may have been identified.