Reprocessing Flexible Endoscopes in the Otolaryngology Clinic.

Reprocessing a flexible endoscope is a complex multistep process. Attention to detail is essential for patient safety. Physicians need to empower their staff to function as guardians and advocates for best practices in endoscope reprocessing. Current best practice standards and guidelines for flexible endoscope reprocessing in the United States have been led by the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and Multisociety Guideline. This article focuses on important aspects and current best practices for flexible endoscope cleaning and high-level disinfection.