Today, the most common way to rid flexible endoscopes of dangerous pathogens is through cleaning followed by high level disinfection using liquid chemicals. But even that doesn't guarantee a safe endoscope.

'Based on what we know today and the solutions that currently are available,' said Janet, 'two additional steps can be taken by facilities to help safeguard their patients - the use of a rapid cleaning indicator and terminal sterilization with ethylene oxide.'

3M offers solutions that address these additional steps. The 3M Clean-Trace ATP Monitoring System uses optical science and bioluminescence to detect, identify and record the presence of organic soil on a surface. And the 3M Steri-Vac EO Sterilizers use ethylene oxide gas - a sterilant that's lethal even to highly-resistant microorganisms - to penetrate the complex geometries of medical devices.

3M Company issued this content on 26 April 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 28 April 2016 17:10:07 UTC

Original Document: http://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/Newsroom/Full-Story/?storyid=cb05bd23-57fe-49e8-b8f4-1f98d5ababef