Not eligible for CE credit.

Bronchoscopy played an important role in identifying the virus responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic, and there will be a continued need for bronchoscopy among critically ill COVID-19 patients and others with serious conditions. There is substantial evidence that bronchoscope reprocessing is not consistently effective. Inadequate reprocessing puts healthcare personnel and patients at risk of exposure to COVID-19 and other pathogens harbored in bronchoscopes. This webinar is designed to provide timely evidence to clinicians, infection preventionists, and reprocessing personnel who handle reusable bronchoscopes. The presenter is an epidemiologist who specializes in infection prevention. She explains key findings from her bronchoscope reprocessing studies and COVID-19 studies by others working in the field. This webinar also describes strategies for reducing bronchoscopy-associated risks that impact healthcare personnel and patient safety.

Objectives

By the end of this short webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the role bronchoscopy plays in COVID-19
2. Summarize recent research on bronchoscope reprocessing ineffectiveness
3. Explain risks related to using bronchoscopes contaminated with COVID-19 or other pathogens
4. Discuss strategies for reducing the risk of exposure to contaminated bronchoscopes

Content outline

1. Evidence sparking concern about contaminated bronchoscopes
2. Bronchoscope reprocessing effectiveness
3. The need for universal precautions during COVID-19 outbreaks
4. Strategies for reducing risk
5. Sponsor acknowledgement (Supported by an educational grant from Ambu)