HELPFUL HAND Bedside pre-cleaning kits help staff get a head start on scope reprocessing.

Bedside Pre-Cleaning Kits
Standardize Your Scope Pre-Cleaning

cleaned at the point of use can make a big difference in your reprocessing process. The problem is that usually this process isn't standardized and it's easy to take shortcuts or to make mistakes. To make things a little easier, consider bedside pre-cleaning kits.

These kits, which several manufacturers offer, are usually customizable. They should contain a single-use brush, a pre-moistened sponge and lubricant. For procedures not done in a GI suite, they also should contain a "to-go" kit for safe transfer of the scope to decontamination.

After a case is finished, staff can open up the kit, grab the sponge — which should already be pre-moistened with the right amount of enzymatic cleaner — add water and wipe the scope down. Stress to staff that they must add the correct amount of water to the enzymatic cleaner to ensure that it's the right concentration. They can then use the brush to remove gross soil inside the lumen, and safely pack it up before it heads to decontamination.

In light of the recent duodenoscope outbreaks and the increased focus on reprocessing standardization, more facilities should be considering these kits. Personally, I see a lot of problems with bedside cleaning, and this is a way to save time while reducing the risk of human error.

Donna Nucci, RN, CIC
Yale-New Haven Hospital
New Haven, Conn.
[email protected]