As methods of decontaminating equipment used for gastrointestinal endoscopy continue to be closely scrutinised, Health Estate Journal summarises the latest British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines.
The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines on decontamination of equipment for gastrointestinal endoscopy have been updated.
Clarification of the need to decontaminate all endoscope channels, including auxiliary and duodenoscope elevator channels, in response to the Hine Report in which problems in decontamination practice in Northern Ireland were addressed.
In response to new guidance and risk stratification on variant Creutzfeldt- Jakob Disease (vCJD) the advice is to move towards single use accessories, and to consider single use disinfectants, especially in endoscopy units that serve haemophilia centres.
The BSG Decontamination Working Group will meet annually with a view to further revisions in this rapidly evolving area. Hard copies of the 2007 version of the guidelines will be circulated next year.
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