Comparison of actual and recommended ENT endoscope disinfection practices, by geographical regions in the United States.

Endoscopy of the aerodigestive tract, a commonly performed procedure in ENT practice, is not without risk of disease transmission. Review of the nursing literature reveals concern regarding endoscopy of the GI tract, but little has been published regarding disease transmission from ENT endoscopy. The ENT nursing literature does not offer specific practice guidelines for high level disinfection (HLD) of ENT endoscopes. This lack of practice guidelines and recognized confusion regarding clinical practice led to the need for a national survey of ENT nurses to examine what reprocessing practices are being performed. Questionnaires were sent to 150 nurse members of the Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Nurses (SOHN) to gather information about actual endoscope cleaning practices and whether there were any regional differences. Eighty completed forms were returned. The results were tabulated and compared to the AORN recommended method of achieving HLD by glutaraldehyde soak. Results indicate SOHN nurses use a variety of methods to clean and disinfect endoscopes; some nurses use methods not recommended for HLD; results do not demonstrate a universal understanding of the requirements to achieve HLD; regional differences were not obvious; and SOHN nurses may benefit from use of a professionally endorsed disinfection protocol.