We're exploring which water sources are used for endoscopy in UK hospitals. We haven't identified clear guidance on whether water for flushing and bedside cleaning endoscopes needs to be sterile, although endoscopy is not a sterile procedure. We've identified that practice is variable. Do you have any experience or expertise on this topic to share?
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Our understanding aligns with yours: endoscopy is not a sterile procedure, and there is no single national mandate requiring sterile water for all bedside or flushing activities.
UK practice varies and is typically driven by local IPC policy, manufacturer instructions, and risk assessment. Where water is used to flush internal channels or contact internal surfaces, many organisations apply higher controls (e.g. sterile or treated water), whereas external wipe‑down prior to decontamination is often undertaken using validated detergent wipes and potable water.
The absence of explicit national guidance appears to have contributed to this variability.
In my limited experience, the use of sterile water is frustrating to staff as it creates a lot of plastic bottle waste. Disposing of these single use items also costs money in the waste stream. I am amazed that there is no national guidance on it.
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