Disinfection of gastrointestinal endoscopes and accessories

A worldwide concern has emerged with regard to endoscope disinfection and many gastrointestinal endoscopy associations have developed guidelines for proper disinfection of endoscopes and endoscopic accessories. A working party was convened to formulate guidelines for the Asia-Pacific region, pertaining to any setting in which gastrointestinal endoscopy is performed. Endoscope reprocessing that meets the established standard of practice helps to ensure a microbial-free endoscope for all patients, reduces the risk of disease transmission and helps to prolong the life of the endoscope. The recommendations included mechanical cleaning as the first and most important step followed by immersion in 2% glutaraldehyde for a minimum period of 10 min. Automated disinfectors have been recommended for busy endoscopy centres to ensure better compliance. Reuse of endoscopic accessories meant for 'single use' remains a controversial issue. Strict quality assurance programmes are a must to preclude lack of compliance with these guidelines.