Cleaning, disinfecting procedures help control spread of infection

The spread of nosocomial infection connected with the use of the fiberoptic bronchoscope can be controlled if hospital personnel are taught clear, specific procedures for the cleaning, disinfecting, and/or sterilizing of these instruments. Infection control authorities recommend that the scopes be sterilized between each patient use, but many hospitals find this to be an impractical practice. As an alternative, fiberoptic bronchoscopes can be disinfected with alkaline gluteraldehyde, a process that takes approximately 10 minutes.