diff --git a/system/database/DB_driver.php b/system/database/DB_driver.php
index dea7050..8b030af 100644
--- a/system/database/DB_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/DB_driver.php
@@ -901,6 +901,43 @@
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	/**
+	 * Escape the SQL Identifiers
+	 *
+	 * This function escapes column and table names
+	 *
+	 * @param	string
+	 * @return	string
+	 */
+	public function escape_identifiers($item)
+	{
+		if ($this->_escape_char == '')
+		{
+			return $item;
+		}
+
+		foreach ($this->_reserved_identifiers as $id)
+		{
+			if (strpos($item, '.'.$id) !== FALSE)
+			{
+				$item = str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.', $item);
+
+				// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
+				return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $this->_escape_char.$item);
+			}
+		}
+
+		if (strpos($item, '.') !== FALSE)
+		{
+			$item = str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.'.$this->_escape_char, $item);
+		}
+
+		// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
+		return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $this->_escape_char.$item.$this->_escape_char);
+	}
+
+	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+	/**
 	 * Generate an insert string
 	 *
 	 * @param	string	the table upon which the query will be performed
@@ -913,7 +950,7 @@
 
 		foreach ($data as $key => $val)
 		{
-			$fields[] = $this->_escape_identifiers($key);
+			$fields[] = $this->escape_identifiers($key);
 			$values[] = $this->escape($val);
 		}
 
@@ -1254,7 +1291,7 @@
 					{
 						if ( ! in_array($val, $this->_reserved_identifiers))
 						{
-							$parts[$key] = $this->_escape_identifiers($val);
+							$parts[$key] = $this->escape_identifiers($val);
 						}
 					}
 
@@ -1311,7 +1348,7 @@
 
 			if ($protect_identifiers === TRUE)
 			{
-				$item = $this->_escape_identifiers($item);
+				$item = $this->escape_identifiers($item);
 			}
 
 			return $item.$alias;
@@ -1334,7 +1371,7 @@
 
 		if ($protect_identifiers === TRUE && ! in_array($item, $this->_reserved_identifiers))
 		{
-			$item = $this->_escape_identifiers($item);
+			$item = $this->escape_identifiers($item);
 		}
 
 		return $item.$alias;
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/cubrid/cubrid_driver.php b/system/database/drivers/cubrid/cubrid_driver.php
index b2ccec2..74d1a85 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/cubrid/cubrid_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/cubrid/cubrid_driver.php
@@ -435,45 +435,6 @@
 		return array('code' => cubrid_errno($this->conn_id), 'message' => cubrid_error($this->conn_id));
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Escape the SQL Identifiers
-	 *
-	 * This function escapes column and table names
-	 *
-	 * @param	string
-	 * @return	string
-	 */
-	public function _escape_identifiers($item)
-	{
-		if ($this->_escape_char == '')
-		{
-			return $item;
-		}
-
-		foreach ($this->_reserved_identifiers as $id)
-		{
-			if (strpos($item, '.'.$id) !== FALSE)
-			{
-				$str = $this->_escape_char. str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.', $item);
-
-				// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-				return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $str);
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (strpos($item, '.') !== FALSE)
-		{
-			$str = $this->_escape_char.str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.'.$this->_escape_char, $item).$this->_escape_char;
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			$str = $this->_escape_char.$item.$this->_escape_char;
-		}
-
-		// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-		return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $str);
-	}
-
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	/**
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/cubrid/cubrid_forge.php b/system/database/drivers/cubrid/cubrid_forge.php
index bbda484..f83dc97 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/cubrid/cubrid_forge.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/cubrid/cubrid_forge.php
@@ -184,9 +184,7 @@
 			// As of version 8.4.0 CUBRID does not support this SQL syntax.
 		}
 
-		$sql .= $this->db->_escape_identifiers($table)." (";
-
-		$sql .= $this->_process_fields($fields);
+		$sql .= $this->db->escape_identifiers($table).' ('.$this->_process_fields($fields);
 
 		// If there is a PK defined
 		if (count($primary_keys) > 0)
@@ -230,7 +228,7 @@
 	 */
 	public function _drop_table($table)
 	{
-		return "DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ".$this->db->_escape_identifiers($table);
+		return 'DROP TABLE IF EXISTS '.$this->db->escape_identifiers($table);
 	}
 
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/interbase/interbase_driver.php b/system/database/drivers/interbase/interbase_driver.php
index fd164cd..88638a2 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/interbase/interbase_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/interbase/interbase_driver.php
@@ -343,38 +343,6 @@
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	/**
-	 * Escape the SQL Identifiers
-	 *
-	 * This public function escapes column and table names
-	 *
-	 * @param	string
-	 * @return	string
-	 */
-	protected function _escape_identifiers($item)
-	{
-		foreach ($this->_reserved_identifiers as $id)
-		{
-			if (strpos($item, '.'.$id) !== FALSE)
-			{
-				$item = str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.', $item);
-
-				// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-				return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $this->_escape_char.$item);
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (strpos($item, '.') !== FALSE)
-		{
-			$item = str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.'.$this->_escape_char, $item);
-		}
-
-		// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-		return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $this->_escape_char.$item.$this->_escape_char);
-	}
-
-	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-	/**
 	 * From Tables
 	 *
 	 * This public function implicitly groups FROM tables so there is no confusion
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/mssql/mssql_driver.php b/system/database/drivers/mssql/mssql_driver.php
index 055c9de..ae3b843 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/mssql/mssql_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/mssql/mssql_driver.php
@@ -404,47 +404,6 @@
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	/**
-	 * Escape the SQL Identifiers
-	 *
-	 * This function escapes column and table names
-	 *
-	 * @param	string
-	 * @return	string
-	 */
-	public function _escape_identifiers($item)
-	{
-		if ($this->_escape_char == '')
-		{
-			return $item;
-		}
-
-		foreach ($this->_reserved_identifiers as $id)
-		{
-			if (strpos($item, '.'.$id) !== FALSE)
-			{
-				$str = $this->_escape_char. str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.', $item);
-
-				// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-				return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $str);
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (strpos($item, '.') !== FALSE)
-		{
-			$str = $this->_escape_char.str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.'.$this->_escape_char, $item).$this->_escape_char;
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			$str = $this->_escape_char.$item.$this->_escape_char;
-		}
-
-		// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-		return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $str);
-	}
-
-	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-	/**
 	 * From Tables
 	 *
 	 * This function implicitly groups FROM tables so there is no confusion
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/mssql/mssql_forge.php b/system/database/drivers/mssql/mssql_forge.php
index 2e3e314..d787b37 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/mssql/mssql_forge.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/mssql/mssql_forge.php
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
 	 */
 	public function _drop_table($table)
 	{
-		return "DROP TABLE ".$this->db->_escape_identifiers($table);
+		return 'DROP TABLE '.$this->db->escape_identifiers($table);
 	}
 
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@
 			$sql .= 'IF NOT EXISTS ';
 		}
 
-		$sql .= $this->db->_escape_identifiers($table)." (";
+		$sql .= $this->db->escape_identifiers($table).' (';
 		$current_field_count = 0;
 
 		foreach ($fields as $field => $attributes)
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/mysql/mysql_driver.php b/system/database/drivers/mysql/mysql_driver.php
index 7afa5ac..28020d3 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/mysql/mysql_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/mysql/mysql_driver.php
@@ -439,43 +439,6 @@
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	/**
-	 * Escape the SQL Identifiers
-	 *
-	 * This function escapes column and table names
-	 *
-	 * @param	string
-	 * @return	string
-	 */
-	public function _escape_identifiers($item)
-	{
-		if ($this->_escape_char == '')
-		{
-			return $item;
-		}
-
-		foreach ($this->_reserved_identifiers as $id)
-		{
-			if (strpos($item, '.'.$id) !== FALSE)
-			{
-				$item = str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.', $item);
-
-				// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-				return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $this->_escape_char.$item);
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (strpos($item, '.') !== FALSE)
-		{
-			$item = str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.'.$this->_escape_char, $item);
-		}
-
-		// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-		return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $this->_escape_char.$item.$this->_escape_char);
-	}
-
-	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-	/**
 	 * From Tables
 	 *
 	 * This function implicitly groups FROM tables so there is no confusion
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_driver.php b/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_driver.php
index 00bc726..50e2136 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_driver.php
@@ -439,43 +439,6 @@
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	/**
-	 * Escape the SQL Identifiers
-	 *
-	 * This function escapes column and table names
-	 *
-	 * @param	string
-	 * @return	string
-	 */
-	public function _escape_identifiers($item)
-	{
-		if ($this->_escape_char == '')
-		{
-			return $item;
-		}
-
-		foreach ($this->_reserved_identifiers as $id)
-		{
-			if (strpos($item, '.'.$id) !== FALSE)
-			{
-				$item = str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.', $item);
-
-				// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-				return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $this->_escape_char.$item);
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (strpos($item, '.') !== FALSE)
-		{
-			$item = str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.'.$this->_escape_char, $item);
-		}
-
-		// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-		return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $this->_escape_char.$item.$this->_escape_char);
-	}
-
-	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-	/**
 	 * From Tables
 	 *
 	 * This function implicitly groups FROM tables so there is no confusion
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_forge.php b/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_forge.php
index a1caf5c..4b6939e 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_forge.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_forge.php
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@
 			$sql .= 'IF NOT EXISTS ';
 		}
 
-		$sql .= $this->db->_escape_identifiers($table).' ('.$this->_process_fields($fields);
+		$sql .= $this->db->escape_identifiers($table).' ('.$this->_process_fields($fields);
 
 		if (count($primary_keys) > 0)
 		{
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@
 	 */
 	public function _drop_table($table)
 	{
-		return 'DROP TABLE IF EXISTS '.$this->db->_escape_identifiers($table);
+		return 'DROP TABLE IF EXISTS '.$this->db->escape_identifiers($table);
 	}
 
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_utility.php b/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_utility.php
index 4d7002e..cb3f86b 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_utility.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_utility.php
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 	 */
 	public function _optimize_table($table)
 	{
-		return 'OPTIMIZE TABLE '.$this->db->_escape_identifiers($table);
+		return 'OPTIMIZE TABLE '.$this->db->escape_identifiers($table);
 	}
 
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
 	 */
 	public function _repair_table($table)
 	{
-		return 'REPAIR TABLE '.$this->db->_escape_identifiers($table);
+		return 'REPAIR TABLE '.$this->db->escape_identifiers($table);
 	}
 
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/oci8/oci8_driver.php b/system/database/drivers/oci8/oci8_driver.php
index 756d93a..6e225ee 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/oci8/oci8_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/oci8/oci8_driver.php
@@ -567,43 +567,6 @@
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	/**
-	 * Escape the SQL Identifiers
-	 *
-	 * This function escapes column and table names
-	 *
-	 * @param	string
-	 * @return	string
-	 */
-	public function _escape_identifiers($item)
-	{
-		if ($this->_escape_char == '')
-		{
-			return $item;
-		}
-
-		foreach ($this->_reserved_identifiers as $id)
-		{
-			if (strpos($item, '.'.$id) !== FALSE)
-			{
-				$item = str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.', $item);
-
-				// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-				return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $this->_escape_char.$item);
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (strpos($item, '.') !== FALSE)
-		{
-			$item = str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.'.$this->_escape_char, $item);
-		}
-
-		// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-		return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $this->_escape_char.$item.$this->_escape_char);
-	}
-
-	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-	/**
 	 * From Tables
 	 *
 	 * This function implicitly groups FROM tables so there is no confusion
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/oci8/oci8_forge.php b/system/database/drivers/oci8/oci8_forge.php
index 4b2ecca..033e618 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/oci8/oci8_forge.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/oci8/oci8_forge.php
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
 			$sql .= 'IF NOT EXISTS ';
 		}
 
-		$sql .= $this->db->_escape_identifiers($table).' (';
+		$sql .= $this->db->escape_identifiers($table).' (';
 		$current_field_count = 0;
 
 		foreach ($fields as $field => $attributes)
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/odbc/odbc_driver.php b/system/database/drivers/odbc/odbc_driver.php
index de5af7b..d1a5f77 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/odbc/odbc_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/odbc/odbc_driver.php
@@ -343,47 +343,6 @@
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	/**
-	 * Escape the SQL Identifiers
-	 *
-	 * This function escapes column and table names
-	 *
-	 * @param	string
-	 * @return	string
-	 */
-	public function _escape_identifiers($item)
-	{
-		if ($this->_escape_char == '')
-		{
-			return $item;
-		}
-
-		foreach ($this->_reserved_identifiers as $id)
-		{
-			if (strpos($item, '.'.$id) !== FALSE)
-			{
-				$str = $this->_escape_char. str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.', $item);
-
-				// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-				return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $str);
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (strpos($item, '.') !== FALSE)
-		{
-			$str = $this->_escape_char.str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.'.$this->_escape_char, $item).$this->_escape_char;
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			$str = $this->_escape_char.$item.$this->_escape_char;
-		}
-
-		// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-		return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $str);
-	}
-
-	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-	/**
 	 * From Tables
 	 *
 	 * This function implicitly groups FROM tables so there is no confusion
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/odbc/odbc_forge.php b/system/database/drivers/odbc/odbc_forge.php
index 486a8dd..afdd6de 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/odbc/odbc_forge.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/odbc/odbc_forge.php
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
 			$sql .= 'IF NOT EXISTS ';
 		}
 
-		$sql .= $this->db->_escape_identifiers($table)." (";
+		$sql .= $this->db->escape_identifiers($table).' (';
 		$current_field_count = 0;
 
 		foreach ($fields as $field => $attributes)
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/pdo/pdo_driver.php b/system/database/drivers/pdo/pdo_driver.php
index bd9edde..919bb9c 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/pdo/pdo_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/pdo/pdo_driver.php
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			$sql = 'SHOW TABLES FROM '.$this->_escape_identifiers($this->database);
+			$sql = 'SHOW TABLES FROM '.$this->escape_identifiers($this->database);
 		}
 
 		if ($prefix_limit !== FALSE AND $this->dbprefix != '')
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@
 	 */
 	protected function _list_columns($table = '')
 	{
-		return 'SHOW COLUMNS FROM '.$this->_escape_identifiers($table);
+		return 'SHOW COLUMNS FROM '.$this->escape_identifiers($table);
 	}
 
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -528,20 +528,20 @@
 		if ($this->pdodriver == 'mysql' or $this->pdodriver == 'pgsql')
 		{
 			// Analog function for mysql and postgre
-			return 'SELECT * FROM '.$this->_escape_identifiers($table).' LIMIT 1';
+			return 'SELECT * FROM '.$this->escape_identifiers($table).' LIMIT 1';
 		}
 		elseif ($this->pdodriver == 'oci')
 		{
 			// Analog function for oci
-			return 'SELECT * FROM '.$this->_escape_identifiers($table).' WHERE ROWNUM <= 1';
+			return 'SELECT * FROM '.$this->escape_identifiers($table).' WHERE ROWNUM <= 1';
 		}
 		elseif ($this->pdodriver == 'sqlite')
 		{
 			// Analog function for sqlite
-			return 'PRAGMA table_info('.$this->_escape_identifiers($table).')';
+			return 'PRAGMA table_info('.$this->escape_identifiers($table).')';
 		}
 
-		return 'SELECT TOP 1 FROM '.$this->_escape_identifiers($table);
+		return 'SELECT TOP 1 FROM '.$this->escape_identifiers($table);
 	}
 
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -576,43 +576,6 @@
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	/**
-	 * Escape the SQL Identifiers
-	 *
-	 * This function escapes column and table names
-	 *
-	 * @param	string
-	 * @return	string
-	 */
-	public function _escape_identifiers($item)
-	{
-		if ($this->_escape_char == '')
-		{
-			return $item;
-		}
-
-		foreach ($this->_reserved_identifiers as $id)
-		{
-			if (strpos($item, '.'.$id) !== FALSE)
-			{
-				$item = str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.', $item);
-
-				// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-				return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $this->_escape_char.$item);
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (strpos($item, '.') !== FALSE)
-		{
-			$item = str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.'.$this->_escape_char, $item);
-		}
-
-		// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-		return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $this->_escape_char.$item.$this->_escape_char);
-	}
-
-	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-	/**
 	 * From Tables
 	 *
 	 * This function implicitly groups FROM tables so there is no confusion
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/pdo/pdo_forge.php b/system/database/drivers/pdo/pdo_forge.php
index 6bff354..9635e4c 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/pdo/pdo_forge.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/pdo/pdo_forge.php
@@ -91,10 +91,10 @@
 			$sql .= 'IF NOT EXISTS ';
 		}
 
-		$sql .= '`'.$this->db->_escape_identifiers($table).'` (';
+		$sql .= $this->db->escape_identifiers($table).' (';
 		$current_field_count = 0;
 
-		foreach ($fields as $field=>$attributes)
+		foreach ($fields as $field => $attributes)
 		{
 			// Numeric field names aren't allowed in databases, so if the key is
 			// numeric, we know it was assigned by PHP and the developer manually
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/postgre/postgre_driver.php b/system/database/drivers/postgre/postgre_driver.php
index f95ff56..1e96452 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/postgre/postgre_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/postgre/postgre_driver.php
@@ -457,47 +457,6 @@
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	/**
-	 * Escape the SQL Identifiers
-	 *
-	 * This function escapes column and table names
-	 *
-	 * @param	string
-	 * @return	string
-	 */
-	public function _escape_identifiers($item)
-	{
-		if ($this->_escape_char == '')
-		{
-			return $item;
-		}
-
-		foreach ($this->_reserved_identifiers as $id)
-		{
-			if (strpos($item, '.'.$id) !== FALSE)
-			{
-				$str = $this->_escape_char. str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.', $item);
-
-				// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-				return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $str);
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (strpos($item, '.') !== FALSE)
-		{
-			$str = $this->_escape_char.str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.'.$this->_escape_char, $item).$this->_escape_char;
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			$str = $this->_escape_char.$item.$this->_escape_char;
-		}
-
-		// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-		return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $str);
-	}
-
-	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-	/**
 	 * From Tables
 	 *
 	 * This function implicitly groups FROM tables so there is no confusion
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/postgre/postgre_forge.php b/system/database/drivers/postgre/postgre_forge.php
index a724498..f7d5928 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/postgre/postgre_forge.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/postgre/postgre_forge.php
@@ -193,8 +193,7 @@
 			}
 		}
 
-		$sql .= $this->db->_escape_identifiers($table)." (";
-		$sql .= $this->_process_fields($fields, $primary_keys);
+		$sql .= $this->db->escape_identifiers($table).' ('.$this->_process_fields($fields, $primary_keys);
 
 		if (count($primary_keys) > 0)
 		{
@@ -237,11 +236,12 @@
 	/**
 	 * Drop Table
 	 *
+	 * @param	string	table name
 	 * @return	string
 	 */
 	public function _drop_table($table)
 	{
-		return "DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ".$this->db->_escape_identifiers($table)." CASCADE";
+		return 'DROP TABLE IF EXISTS '.$this->db->escape_identifiers($table).' CASCADE';
 	}
 
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/sqlite/sqlite_driver.php b/system/database/drivers/sqlite/sqlite_driver.php
index 9c611f2..3a986d0 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/sqlite/sqlite_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/sqlite/sqlite_driver.php
@@ -366,47 +366,6 @@
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	/**
-	 * Escape the SQL Identifiers
-	 *
-	 * This function escapes column and table names
-	 *
-	 * @param	string
-	 * @return	string
-	 */
-	public function _escape_identifiers($item)
-	{
-		if ($this->_escape_char == '')
-		{
-			return $item;
-		}
-
-		foreach ($this->_reserved_identifiers as $id)
-		{
-			if (strpos($item, '.'.$id) !== FALSE)
-			{
-				$str = $this->_escape_char. str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.', $item);
-
-				// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-				return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $str);
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (strpos($item, '.') !== FALSE)
-		{
-			$str = $this->_escape_char.str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.'.$this->_escape_char, $item).$this->_escape_char;
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			$str = $this->_escape_char.$item.$this->_escape_char;
-		}
-
-		// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-		return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $str);
-	}
-
-	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-	/**
 	 * From Tables
 	 *
 	 * This function implicitly groups FROM tables so there is no confusion
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/sqlite/sqlite_forge.php b/system/database/drivers/sqlite/sqlite_forge.php
index 068a556..a62e8d9 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/sqlite/sqlite_forge.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/sqlite/sqlite_forge.php
@@ -90,10 +90,10 @@
 			$sql .= 'IF NOT EXISTS ';
 		}
 
-		$sql .= $this->db->_escape_identifiers($table)."(";
+		$sql .= $this->db->escape_identifiers($table).' (';
 		$current_field_count = 0;
 
-		foreach ($fields as $field=>$attributes)
+		foreach ($fields as $field => $attributes)
 		{
 			// Numeric field names aren't allowed in databases, so if the key is
 			// numeric, we know it was assigned by PHP and the developer manually
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/sqlite3/sqlite3_driver.php b/system/database/drivers/sqlite3/sqlite3_driver.php
index c78f0c4..12354e1 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/sqlite3/sqlite3_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/sqlite3/sqlite3_driver.php
@@ -342,43 +342,6 @@
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	/**
-	 * Escape the SQL Identifiers
-	 *
-	 * This function escapes column and table names
-	 *
-	 * @param	string
-	 * @return	string
-	 */
-	public function _escape_identifiers($item)
-	{
-		if ($this->_escape_char == '')
-		{
-			return $item;
-		}
-
-		foreach ($this->_reserved_identifiers as $id)
-		{
-			if (strpos($item, '.'.$id) !== FALSE)
-			{
-				$item = str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.', $item);
-
-				// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-				return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $this->_escape_char.$item);
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (strpos($item, '.') !== FALSE)
-		{
-			$item = str_replace('.', $this->_escape_char.'.'.$this->_escape_char, $item);
-		}
-
-		// remove duplicates if the user already included the escape
-		return preg_replace('/['.$this->_escape_char.']+/', $this->_escape_char, $this->_escape_char.$item.$this->_escape_char);
-	}
-
-	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-	/**
 	 * From Tables
 	 *
 	 * This function implicitly groups FROM tables so there is no confusion
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/sqlite3/sqlite3_forge.php b/system/database/drivers/sqlite3/sqlite3_forge.php
index 254db21..3a2060c 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/sqlite3/sqlite3_forge.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/sqlite3/sqlite3_forge.php
@@ -95,10 +95,10 @@
 			$sql .= 'IF NOT EXISTS ';
 		}
 
-		$sql .= $this->db->_escape_identifiers($table).'(';
+		$sql .= $this->db->escape_identifiers($table).' (';
 		$current_field_count = 0;
 
-		foreach ($fields as $field=>$attributes)
+		foreach ($fields as $field => $attributes)
 		{
 			// Numeric field names aren't allowed in databases, so if the key is
 			// numeric, we know it was assigned by PHP and the developer manually
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_driver.php b/system/database/drivers/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_driver.php
index f750247..f4eab8f 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_driver.php
@@ -393,21 +393,6 @@
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	/**
-	 * Escape the SQL Identifiers
-	 *
-	 * This function escapes column and table names
-	 *
-	 * @param	string
-	 * @return	string
-	 */
-	public function _escape_identifiers($item)
-	{
-		return $item;
-	}
-
-	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-	/**
 	 * From Tables
 	 *
 	 * This function implicitly groups FROM tables so there is no confusion
diff --git a/system/database/drivers/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_forge.php b/system/database/drivers/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_forge.php
index 0dc7b52..377dcf1 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_forge.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/sqlsrv/sqlsrv_forge.php
@@ -63,11 +63,12 @@
 	/**
 	 * Drop Table
 	 *
-	 * @return	bool
+	 * @param	string	table name
+	 * @return	string
 	 */
 	public function _drop_table($table)
 	{
-		return "DROP TABLE ".$this->db->_escape_identifiers($table);
+		return 'DROP TABLE '.$this->db->escape_identifiers($table);
 	}
 
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@
 			$sql .= 'IF NOT EXISTS ';
 		}
 
-		$sql .= $this->db->_escape_identifiers($table)." (";
+		$sql .= $this->db->escape_identifiers($table).' (';
 		$current_field_count = 0;
 
 		foreach ($fields as $field => $attributes)
diff --git a/user_guide_src/source/changelog.rst b/user_guide_src/source/changelog.rst
index 81644ec..3ad930e 100644
--- a/user_guide_src/source/changelog.rst
+++ b/user_guide_src/source/changelog.rst
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
 	 -  Added _optimize_table() support for the :doc:`Database Utility Class <database/utilities>` (rebuilds table indexes).
    -  Added a constructor to the DB_result class and moved all driver-specific properties and logic out of the base DB_driver class to allow better abstraction.
    -  Removed limit() and order_by() support for UPDATE and DELETE queries in PostgreSQL driver. Postgres does not support those features.
-   -  Removed protect_identifiers() and renamed _protect_identifiers() to it instead - it was just an alias.
+   -  Removed protect_identifiers() and renamed internal method _protect_identifiers() to it instead - it was just an alias.
    -  MySQL and MySQLi drivers now require at least MySQL version 5.1.
    -  db_set_charset() now only requires one parameter (collation was only needed due to legacy support for MySQL versions prior to 5.1).
    -  Added DSN string support for CUBRID.
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@
 	 -  *Row* result methods now really only fetch only the needed number of rows, instead of depending entirely on result().
 	 -  num_rows() is now only called explicitly by the developer and no longer re-executes statements.
    -  Added replace() support for SQLite.
+   -  Renamed internal method _escape_identifiers() to escape_identifiers().
 
 -  Libraries