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Recommendations to Resolve Inconsistent Guidelines for the Reprocessing of Sheathed and Unsheathed Rigid Laryngoscopes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Lawrence F. Muscarella
Lawrence F. Muscarella*
Affiliation:
Custom Ultrasonics, Ivyland, Pennsylvania
*
Custom Ultrasonics, 144 Railroad Dr., Ivyland, PA 18974 (LFM@myendosite.com)
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Abstract

Neither a consensus statement nor a formal set of step-by-step guidelines for reprocessing rigid laryngoscopes have been published or endorsed by professional organizations. Several published guidelines, standards, and clinical reports were reviewed to evaluate the risk of nosocomial infection associated with the use of rigid laryngoscopes, to determine their minimum reprocessing requirements. This review found that the recommendations of some guidelines and standards for reprocessing rigid laryngoscopes are incomplete, inadequate, and inconsistent with one another, and that current practices for reprocessing rigid laryngoscopes are reported to be inadequate and lack standardization. It is recommended that a consensus statement be developed that standardizes the reprocessing of rigid laryngoscopes and requires cleaning followed by high-level disinfection (or sterilization) and drying of the rigid laryngoscope's blade and handle to prevent nosocomial infection, regardless of whether a protective barrier or sheath is used during the procedure.

Type
Concise Communication
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , April 2007 , pp. 504 - 506
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2007

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