An arrangement for the sterile handling of a non-sterile endoscope in a sterile environment, with a sterile endoscope sheath having an optical element arranged at a distal end of the endoscope sheath, wherein the optical element absorbs electromagnetic radiation in an absorption wavelength range lying in the mid-infrared wavelength range from 3 μm to 50μm, and with a non-sterile endoscope comprising an endoscope shaft and an optical element arranged at a distal end of the endoscope shaft, wherein the optical element of the endoscope is transparent to electromagnetic radiation in the absorption wavelength range, and wherein the endoscope is received in the endoscope sheath and is shielded by it against the environment in a sterile manner, wherein the endoscope has a first sensor element which detects an electromagnetic radiation in the absorption wavelength range originating from the optical element of the endoscope sheath, wherein the endoscope shaft includes a first optical fiber which is optically connected to the first sensor element and which guides electromagnetic radiation in the absorption wavelength range entering the distal end of the endoscope shaft to the first sensor element, characterized in that the endoscope has a second sensor element that detects electromagnetic radiation in the absorption wavelength range, wherein the endoscope shaft includes a second optical fiber which is optically connected to the second sensor element and which guides electromagnetic radiation in the absorption wavelength range from the distal end of the endoscope shaft to the second sensor element, and wherein the second optical fiber is optically closed at a distal end. with a sterile endoscope sheath having an optical element arranged at a distal end of the endoscope sheath, wherein the optical element absorbs electromagnetic radiation in an absorption wavelength range lying in the mid-infrared wavelength range from 3 μm to 50μm, and with a non-sterile endoscope comprising an endoscope shaft and an optical element arranged at a distal end of the endoscope shaft, wherein the optical element of the endoscope is transparent to electromagnetic radiation in the absorption wavelength range, and wherein the endoscope is received in the endoscope sheath and is shielded by it against the environment in a sterile manner, wherein the endoscope has a first sensor element which detects an electromagnetic radiation in the absorption wavelength range originating from the optical element of the endoscope sheath, wherein the endoscope shaft includes a first optical fiber which is optically connected to the first sensor element and which guides electromagnetic radiation in the absorption wavelength range entering the distal end of the endoscope shaft to the first sensor element, characterized in that the endoscope has a second sensor element that detects electromagnetic radiation in the absorption wavelength range, wherein the endoscope shaft includes a second optical fiber which is optically connected to the second sensor element and which guides electromagnetic radiation in the absorption wavelength range from the distal end of the endoscope shaft to the second sensor element, and wherein the second optical fiber is optically closed at a distal end.