Background: Endoscopy is a vital part of medical diagnostic processes. There are different kinds of flexible endoscopes used in medicine. They differ between manufacturers and even between models from the same manufacturer. However, all flexible endoscopes have the same basic components. Infections related to flexible endoscopic procedures are caused by either endogenous flora or exogenous microbes. The first major challenge of reprocessing is infection control, most episodes of infection can be traced to procedural errors in cleaning and disinfecting, the second major challenge is to protect personnel and patients from the exposure to liquid biocides used for disinfection. Because the endoscopic accessories have complex nature, attention and adherence to a validated protocol is critical for reprocessing endoscopic accessories.
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