Few nurses or endoscopy technicians undergo formal training on infection control and reprocessing before joining endoscopy units, according to a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Baylor College of Medicine, both in Houston, conducted the study, which was published Jan. 21. They surveyed 88 nurses and technicians practicing in endoscopy units on their training and knowledge of infection control practices.
Less than 15 percent of respondents reported receiving formal training on endoscope reprocessing or infection prevention before joining their unit.
Many technicians said they began reprocessing endoscopes on their own within one month of joining the unit.
Overall, clinicians reported high levels of confidence in endoscope reprocessing, but their average assessment score for knowledge of best practices was just 62 percent.
Technicians were often less familiar with infection control issues, while nurses were less familiar with specific reprocessing protocols.