27. 08. 2025

Endoscopy Reprocessing: Hygiene Standards and New Technologies

Hospital Management, Inspital Medical Technology

Endoscopy has become an indispensable part of modern medicine. Whether in gastroenterology, urology, or surgery – endoscopes enable minimally invasive examinations and procedures that are gentler for patients and more precise for doctors. However, precisely because endoscopes are reusable, highly sensitive instruments, their reprocessing and sterilization is one of the biggest challenges for hospitals and clinics. Improper or insufficient cleaning can cause serious infections and cross-contamination. Therefore, strict hygiene standards and state-of-the-art reprocessing technologies are essential to ensure patient safety. But what does effective endoscopy reprocessing look like, and what innovations are there in the market? In this article, we shed light on the most important steps of endoscope hygiene, new technological developments, and present Inspital’s suitable cleaning and sterilization solutions.

What is Endoscopy?

Endoscopy literally means "to look inside". Endoscopy is a medical procedure for examining and treating body cavities and organs using flexible or rigid endoscopes. These highly developed devices enable minimally invasive procedures and diagnoses, particularly in gastroenterology, pulmonology, urology, and surgery.
The big advantage: Patients are less burdened as no large incisions are necessary. However, because endoscopes are used repeatedly, their safe and hygienic reprocessing is essential. Missing and inadequate cleaning can cause dangerous infections - therefore, the highest hygiene standards and innovative technologies in endoscopy reprocessing are indispensable.

What endoscopic procedures are there? An overview

a) Esophagogastroduodenoscopy: Examination of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum
b) Ileo-colonoscopy: Colon examination and endoscopic removal of polyps
c) Video capsule endoscopes: Gentle examination of the small intestine
d) Spiral enteroscopy: Examination of the small intestine
e) Endosonography: Ultrasound examination with a special endoscope of the esophagus, stomach or duodenum, rectum

Why is the correct reprocessing of endoscopes so crucial?

Endoscopes consist of sensitive materials and complex channels that are difficult to access. Since they cannot be sterilized at high temperatures, their reprocessing requires special cleaning and disinfection procedures. Without thorough cleaning, blood, tissue residues, and microorganisms can accumulate in the channels, increasing the risk of cross-contamination. Particularly concerning are resistant bacteria that can cause infections that are difficult to treat.

Fact: Studies show that the probability of transmitting an infection through an improperly reprocessed endoscope is up to 100 times higher than with surgical instruments.
To ensure patient safety, strict hygiene requirements exist worldwide, including guidelines from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), FDA, WHO, and ISO standards. Modern cleaning and sterilization systems help meet these high standards.

The 5 Steps of Endoscope Reprocessing

The safe and standard-compliant reprocessing of an endoscope takes place in several steps:
1. Pre-cleaning at the patient's bedside: Immediately after the examination, visible contamination must be removed. This is usually done through rinsing with enzymatic cleaners and wipe disinfection.
2. Manual cleaning: The endoscope is then disassembled and mechanically cleaned with special brushes to remove organic residues.
3. Mechanical cleaning and disinfection: In automatic endoscope washers, all channels are flushed and disinfected with special solutions.
4. Drying and storage: To avoid re-contamination, the endoscope must be completely dried and stored in a germ-free storage system.
5. Documentation and release: All reprocessing steps must be fully documented to ensure safety and traceability.

New Technologies in Endoscope Reprocessing

The use of innovative technologies can further optimize endoscope hygiene. The latest developments include:

Automatic Endoscope Washers
These devices take over the entire cleaning and disinfection process, minimizing human errors and ensuring standardized processes. This brings several advantages: increased safety through automated processes, thorough rinsing of endoscope channels, and complete documentation for better traceability.

Low-Temperature Plasma Sterilization
Since endoscopes are sensitive to high temperatures, plasma sterilization offers an alternative. This method has the following advantages: gentle treatment without material damage, environmental friendliness, and effectiveness against multi-resistant germs.

Intelligent Endoscope Storage Systems
After cleaning, endoscopes must be stored safely and germ-free. Modern drying and storage systems offer an ideal solution for this. The HEPA-filtered air creates a germ-free environment, moisture formation is avoided, and digital logging ensures complete traceability.

Why you should rely on Inspital: Holistic Solutions for Endoscopy

In addition to state-of-the-art systems for endoscope reprocessing, Inspital offers essential equipment for the entire endoscopy procedure. To enable clinics to create a smooth, safe, and ergonomic working environment, our range includes:

Endoskopie Waste Bins – Specially designed waste containers for hygienic and safe disposal of contaminated materials during and after the endoscopy procedure.

Operating Tables for Endoscopy – Ergonomic and flexibly adjustable operating tables, optimally designed for endoscopic procedures and offering maximum comfort for patients and medical staff.

Surgical Lights – High-performance LED surgical lights with precise illumination, ensuring optimal visibility during endoscopy.
With these products, Inspital ensures that hospitals are well-equipped not only for the reprocessing and hygiene of endoscopes but also for the entire endoscopic procedure.

Conclusion: Hygienic Endoscopy

Proper endoscope reprocessing is a crucial factor for patient safety. The combination of structured cleaning processes and cutting-edge technologies helps to significantly reduce the risk of infection.
The main insights of the article can be summarized as follows:

- Endoscopes require particularly careful cleaning and disinfection due to their fine channels.
- The 5-step reprocessing (pre-cleaning, manual cleaning, machine disinfection, drying, documentation) ensures the highest hygiene standards.
- Automatic washers, plasma sterilization, and intelligent storage systems provide optimized process reliability.
- Inspital offers innovative solutions that enable efficient and standard-compliant endoscope reprocessing.

With Inspital's modern reprocessing, storage, and sterilization systems, hospitals and clinics can ensure reliable infection prevention while implementing efficient, standard-compliant processes.