During this webinar, the presenter describes her team’s groundbreaking discovery of simethicone inside gastrointestinal endoscopes. She explains how the substance was originally identified and describes her team’s detection of other insoluble products on bronchoscopes and GI endoscopes. The presenter discusses the nature of these products, their clinical value, and the dilemma posed by policies that prohibit their use. This course is designed to empower clinicians, perioperative nurses, central service managers, and reprocessing personnel interested in identifying suspicious residues found on endoscopes. The webinar includes recommendations for addressing the use of these insoluble products, including methods for determining which products are being used, conducting risk assessments, and developing strategies for reducing the risk

Objectives

By the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will be able to:
    • Describe four types of insoluble products that are commonly used during endoscopy
    • Explain how the use of these products impacts reprocessing effectiveness
    • Summarize guidelines and manufacturer statements on the use of insoluble products
    • Discuss strategies for addressing the potential impact of these products

Instructor

Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH

President and CEO, Ofstead & Associates, Inc.
Cori Ofstead is an epidemiologist with 30 years of experience designing and conducting studies about the impact of clinical processes on patient outcomes. She has served as the Principal Investigator on numerous studies related to infection prevention, instrument reprocessing, and vaccination against infectious diseases. Ms. Ofstead is nationally recognized for her groundbreaking research, and her studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals including CHEST, AJIC, ICHE, Journal of Hospital Infection, Endoscopy International Open, Urology, Journal of Wound Care, Gastroenterology Nursing, and Vaccine. She currently serves as a reviewer for AJIC, The Journal of Hospital Infection, Endoscopy, and the Journal of Urology, and is an active member of the editorial board for AJIC. She has presented the findings of her studies at national and international conferences sponsored by the CDC, APIC, HSPA, AORN, SGNA, AGA, ASGE, and several universities.