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Survey of gastrointestinal endoscope disinfection and accessory reprocessing practices in the Asia-Pacific region

V Ahuja1, R K Tandon

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
|December 2, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Gastrointestinal endoscope disinfection practices in the Asia-Pacific region show significant deviations from guidelines. Many centers fail to disinfect scopes daily, use inadequate disinfectants, or shorten soak times, increasing infection transmission risks.

Area of Science:

  • Infection Control
  • Gastroenterology
  • Medical Device Reprocessing

Background:

  • Concerns exist regarding infection transmission via gastrointestinal endoscopes.
  • Reliability of disinfection techniques and adherence to guidelines are questioned.
  • Limited recent surveys address endoscope disinfection practices.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess current disinfection practices for gastrointestinal endoscopes and accessories in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • To identify deviations from recommended disinfection protocols.

Main Methods:

  • A questionnaire was distributed to 356 randomly selected endoscopy centers in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • Response rate was 38.7%.
  • Data collected on disinfection procedures, disinfectants, soak times, drying methods, and accessory reuse.

Main Results:

  • Significant aberrations in disinfection procedures were observed.
  • One-third of centers did not disinfect scopes at the start of the day.
  • Inadequate high-level disinfectant use, insufficient glutaraldehyde soak times, and improper drying methods were common.
  • Reuse of single-use accessories was widely practiced.

Conclusions:

  • Current gastrointestinal endoscope disinfection practices in the Asia-Pacific region often fall short of established guidelines.
  • Non-compliance poses a potential risk for healthcare-associated infections.
  • Improved adherence to disinfection protocols and regular audits are necessary.

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