Page updated 30 April 2007
Rigid Endoscopes
Fetoscopes, Hysteroscopes, Laparoscopes and Arthroscopes
These instruments should be sterile prior to use. Decontamination using liquid disinfectants is not ideal although in practice infection is very unlikely from equipment processed properly in this way. If possible, sterilize by autoclaving, or using the Sterad gas plasma system (or ethylene oxide).
Some subsidiary equipment in current use (eg.intrauterine catheters and fibre optic leads) do not withstand autoclaving. These should be sterilised using Sterad gas plasma (or ethylene oxide).
Rigid Bronchoscopes, Oesophagoscopes and Telescopes
These instruments should normally be autoclaved. In a few cases, rigid bronchoscopes contain fibre-optic leads and are not suitable for autoclaving. Heat sensitive equipment should ideally be sterilised using ethylene oxide or the Sterad gas plasma system. Alternatively, immerse the clean instrument in approved disinfectant for 10 minutes, ensuring that all air channels are flushed through. Remove the instrument, rinse with sterile water and dry with sterile towels.
Before doing an endoscopy on an immunocompromised patient, the endoscope should be disinfected. Patients known to have infection with M. tuberculosis, HIV or HBV should be scheduled for the end of the list and the endoscope cleaned then immersed in disinfectant for 20 minutes. If atypical mycobacterial infection is suspected the period of immersion should be 1 hour.
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