Colonoscopy Procedures And Your HealthA colonoscopy procedure means looking inside the colon of the human body for medical reasons. Through the colonoscopy procedure, one is able to see lesions and abnormalities in the colon. Being able to examine the colon through this means is considered a major advancement in the prevention, detection and treatment of colon diseases and disorders, such as ulcers, cancer, and internal bleeding. The colonoscopy procedure is best performed immediately if there are “alarm” markers in colon ailments including anemia, bleeding, anorexia, early satiety, recurrent vomiting, dysphagia, jaundice, palpable mass, guaiacpositive stool, or weight loss. Because the diagnostic yield for organic pathology with colonoscopy procedure is 60 percent in patients over age 60, these patients should also receive early colonoscopy procedure, preferably within four to six weeks of presentation, if symptoms have occurred for the first time. In some hospitals, however, there is an increasing number of hospital infections brought by the colonoscopy procedure but those who want to make sure they have a healthy colon do not have a choice. The major reasons for transmission of infections in colonoscopy procedure were:
Salmonella species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, atypical mycobacteria, and P. aeruginosa were the most common causes of infections transmitted through the colonoscopy procedure. Although there is a limited specific instrument reprocessing instructions that addresses the prevention of cross-infection, strict adherence to well-established colonoscopy procedure reprocessing guidelines appears to be sufficient in the prevention of the transmission of infections. Any facility in which colonoscopy procedure is performed must have an effective quality assurance program in place to ensure that the scopes are reprocessed properly. Quality assurance programs for colonoscopy procedure must include the supervision, training, and annual competency review of all staff involved in the process, systems that assure availability of appropriate equipment and supplies at all times, and strict procedures for reporting possible problems. Healthcare workers responsible for colonoscopy procedure are recommended to review the basic principles of infection control, standard precautions and aseptic technique. Also, these healthcare workers are encouraged to review the operator's manuals of each of their facility's different models of colonoscopy procedure to become better acquainted with the internal design of each and to establish whether any require special reprocessing procedures. Ensuring that each of the scope's surfaces, particularly its internal channels, are accounted for and are being thoroughly cleaned and high-level disinfected by reprocessing personnel after each use is crucial to prevent infection. The colonoscopy procedure and the accessories used should be cleaned and processed according to the manufacturers' specific instructions. Flexible scopes for colons, by virtue of the body cavities in which they are used, acquire high levels of microbial contamination during each use. Scopes should be sterilized or disinfected according to recommended practices for sterilization in colonoscopy procedure practice settings. Policies and procedures for cleaning and processing scopes, scope accessories, and related equipment should be developed, reviewed regularly, revised as necessary, and readily available in the colonoscopy procedure setting. |