Proper endoscope processing requires strict adherence to instructions for use, national standards, and professional society guidelines. This presentation will outline the latest national standard on flexible endoscope processing, ANSI/AAMI ST91. It will highlight key differences between the 2015 version and the 2021 update. Attendees will learn how to review the document to evaluate areas of noncompliance and create a crosswalk for implementation of the recommendations and requirements in the standard.

Learning Objectives:

-Discuss the updated national standard, ANSI/AAMI ST91, highlighting key differences between the 2015 version and the latest update

-Identify current best practices in the processing of flexible endoscopes as outlined in ST91 and other guidelines

-Outline how engineering quality assurance parameters into endoscope processing can help to reduce healthcare-acquired infections and surgical site infections and help to determine if an endoscope is patient ready           

Mary Ann Drosnock: 

Drosnock is the Director of Clinical Affairs at Healthmark Industries, where she leads a team of educators. She served as co-chair of AAMI Working Group 84 for ST91 from 2013 to 2021. Before Healthmark, she managed the Infection Control Program for Olympus, worked as a pharmaceutical microbiologist, and taught microbiology courses at the college level. Drosnock has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Albright College and a master’s degree in Quality/Regulatory from Temple. She is certified in Infection Control and Endoscope Reprocessing and is a Fellow for APIC and AAMI. She will graduate as a Doctor of Health Science this summer.