After manually cleaning contaminated flexible endoscopes with a detergent solution, what is the NEXT step in the decontamination process?

After manually cleaning contaminated flexible endoscopes with a detergent solution, the next essential step in the decontamination process is high-level disinfection. This step is crucial because it ensures that any remaining pathogens are effectively eliminated, providing a safe instrument for future use.

High-level disinfection is necessary following the cleaning phase to ensure that the endoscope is free from bacteria, viruses, and fungi that could potentially cause infections when the device is used on patients. This process usually involves immersing the cleaned endoscope in a high-level disinfectant solution or using an automated system designed for this purpose.

While other steps like lubricating, drying, and storing are important aspects of endoscope preparation, they do not follow directly after the cleaning process. Lubricating is typically performed after the disinfection phase to protect the endoscope's internal components, while drying is essential to prevent microbial growth but occurs after disinfection. Storing is a final step that happens once the endoscope has been cleaned, disinfected, and dried. Therefore, high-level disinfection serves as the critical next step to ensure patient safety and the effectiveness of the endoscopic instruments.