endoscopy DECONTAMINATION

BIOFILMS & ENDOSCOPY

Growth of bioﬁlms inside endoscope channels can result in failure of endoscope reprocessing and is an important factor in the pathogenesis of endoscopy-related infections. ⁶

Microbial surveillance to monitor endoscopes after reprocessing has been recommended by a majority of organizations (ASGE, ESGE, ESGENA, GESA).

Countries with systematic endoscope monitoring confirm high contamination rates.

10 to 30% of patient-ready endoscopes are contaminated with microorganisms . ¹

If contaminated scopes are used, investigators noted high rates of transmission.²

More outbreaks are linked to contaminated endoscopes than to any other medical device.³

Endoscopes not sterilized, hence reprocessing has narrow margin of safety. Any slight deviation can lead to survival of microorganisms.⁴

Endoscopes are significant vectors for nosocomial transmission of microorganisms as a result of scope contamination from the patient or from the inanimate environment (e.g. automated endoscope reprocessing devices).⁵

SEVERAL RECENT ASES⁸ REPORTED OF INFECTIONS POST-ERCP FOLLOWING COMPLETE COMPLIANCE WITH CLEANING GUIDELINES (MORBIDITY & MORTALITY

Infection rates “far higher” than expected in US endoscopy centers
An update on gastrointestinal endoscopy-associated infections and their contributing factors
IF IT'S NOT CLEAN, IT SHOULDN'T BE DISINFECTED
- Inorganic and organic materials interfere with the effectiveness/ antimicrobial activity of disinfectants and sterilization.²
- It is impossible to disinfect an inadequately cleaned instrument.²
- “Any disinfection process is doomed to fail if cleaning is inadequate.”⁷

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