Putting It All Together: Making Sense of the Multiple Reprocessing Guidelines | June 2022-GI Society Joint Statement AAMI ST91 2021

GI Society Joint Statement AAMI ST91 2021

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Several GI societies, including the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, and Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, have issued a joint statement expressing their concerns and opposition to the revisions made to the ANSI/AAMI ST91 standard for endoscopic processing. The societies believe that the changes create obstacles to implementing the standards and provide impractical, inappropriate, or conflicting guidance.<br /><br />The societies emphasize their commitment to eliminating healthcare-associated infections and improving education about evidence-based practices. While they acknowledge the need for alternative endoscopes and reprocessing technologies, they argue that the focus should remain on training, oversight, and enhancing cleaning practices and technologies.<br /><br />The involvement of GI societies in the revision process allowed them to voice their concerns, but they feel that the drafting process lacked transparency and was driven by issues that were not supported by evidence. They point out various aspects of the revised standard that they find problematic, including unsubstantiated statements, disparities between normative and formative sections, and impractical and inappropriate guidance.<br /><br />The joint statement also provides recommendations for endoscopy units when adopting guidelines and standards for endoscope reprocessing. Units are advised to know and follow the guidelines adopted by their facility, reconcile any differences between recommendations to avoid contradictory policies, ensure accuracy and precision in following the guidelines, and be able to articulate the reasons behind their chosen guidelines.<br /><br />Overall, the GI societies express their disappointment with the revisions made to the ANSI/AAMI ST91 standard and their concerns about the impact on patient safety and the ability of healthcare teams to implement the standards effectively.

Keywords

GI societies

revisions

ANSI/AAMI ST91 standard

endoscopic processing

concerns

guidance

healthcare-associated infections

training

transparency

patient safety