[Clinical experience with the hygienic reprocessing of rigid endoscopes lacking a working channel with reference to practicability in clinical routine].

Background: Contaminated medical products may be vectors for infections. A safe disinfection method for the optical instruments used by ENT specialists is undoubtedly needed. So far, a standard method that sufficiently covers the risk of infection for patients and medical staff alike, while serving the need of practicability in daily routine, has not been established.

Patients And Methods: In the ENT departments of the Mannheim and Kaiserslautern hospitals, a study on the practicability of disinfection rigid optical instruments lacking working channels was conducted using cleaning and disinfection automats. A total of 735 patients were examined (Hopkins 30 degrees and 70 degrees) and the endoscopes subsequently sterilized using a cleaning and disinfection automat.

Results: Each cleaning cycle took about 40 min. Examining 70-100 patients a day, a minimum of eight 70 degrees Hopkins endoscopes would be needed.

Conclusion: The sterilization of medical products such as endoscopes is the best practice, but certain hindrances, such as loss of time and costs involved, complicate its general application.