Disinfection Efficacy of Glutaraldehyde and an Automated Endoscope Reprocessor: an In-Use Evaluation.
- Author:
Jun Haeng LEE
1
;
Poong Lyul RHEE
;
Won Hyeok CHOE
;
Il Chol HONG
;
Byeong Hoon AHN
;
Jae Hoon SONG
;
Nam Yong LEE
;
Sung Won YOON
;
Young Ho KIM
;
Hee Jung SON
;
Jae J KIM
;
Kwang Cheol KOH
;
Seung Woon PAIK
;
Jong Chul RHEE
;
Kyoo Wan CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. plrhee@smc.samsung.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Endoscopes;
Glutaraldehyde;
Automated endoscope reprocessor;
Disinfection
- MeSH:
Biopsy;
Disinfection*;
Endoscopes*;
Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal;
Endoscopy;
Glutaral*;
Humans;
Umbilical Cord
- From:Korean Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
2001;22(6):393-398
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Safety of endoscopic procedures has been a major issue over the last 10 years. Most endoscopy units use 2% glutaraldehyde and automated endoscope reprocessors (AERs) for disinfecting gastrointestinal endoscopes. We attempted an in-use evaluation of the current reprocessing procedures. METHODS: Thirty flexible endoscopes were randomly collected just after upper endoscopic examinations and were disinfected using 2% glutaraldehyde in an AER. Cultures were taken from biopsy channels (S-1), tip of the insertion tubes (S-2), umbilical cords (S-3), and angulation knobs (S-4). RESULTS: In 63.3% (19/30) of endoscopes, there was no microbial contamination after disinfection procedures. The culture positive rates of S-1, S-2, S-3, and S-4 samples were 20.0%, 0.0%, 3.3%, and 20.0%, respectively. Microorganisms of 13 species were identified, but there was no pathogen related with reported infectious complications after endoscopic procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Current disinfection procedure using 2% glutaraldehyde and an AER appears to be very effective in decontaminating patient-used endoscopes. Low level microbial contamination of endoscopes after conventional reprocessing methods may not impose great risk on patients.
