[Principles of hygiene in ENT endoscopy]. / Grundsätze der Hygiene bei der HNO-Endoskopie.

This article gives a report on principles of reprocessing of rigid and flexible endoscopes used in ENT units including structural and spatial requirements based on the general and also ENT-specific risks of infection associated with diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy. The underlying legal principles as well as recommendations from scientific societies will be exemplified in order to give the otorhinolaryngologist a practical guidance.Preliminary results of a nation-wide survey on infection control standards based on data of 29 ENT practices in Germany reveal actual deficits of varying degree concerning infection control management including reprocessing of endoscopes. The presented review aims to give support to the establishment of a structured infection control management program including the evaluation of results by means of a prospective surveillance.