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In-use evaluation of Perasafe compared with Cidex in fibreoptic bronchoscope disinfection

A Hernández1, E Martró, C Puzo

  • 1Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol, Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Ctra. del Canyet s/n. Badalona, Barcelona 08916, Spain.

The Journal of Hospital Infection
|May 28, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Perasafe, a peracetic acid disinfectant, effectively kills Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare on bronchoscopes. It matches the efficacy of glutaraldehyde disinfectants, offering a viable option for reprocessing medical instruments.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Device Reprocessing

Background:

  • Mycobacterial contamination poses a significant risk in healthcare settings.
  • Effective disinfection of fibreoptic bronchoscopes is crucial for patient safety.
  • Peracetic acid-based disinfectants are increasingly used for medical equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the mycobactericidal activity of Perasafe (0.26% peracetic acid) with Cidex (2% alkaline glutaraldehyde).
  • To evaluate the efficacy of Perasafe for disinfecting fibreoptic bronchoscopes contaminated with mycobacteria.

Main Methods:

  • An in-use test was conducted using artificially contaminated fibreoptic bronchoscopes.
  • Contamination involved Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare in sputum.
  • Disinfection times of 10 and 20 minutes were tested after manual pre-cleaning.

Main Results:

  • Perasafe demonstrated comparable mycobactericidal efficacy to Cidex.
  • A 10-minute disinfection period with Perasafe was effective against M. tuberculosis.
  • A 20-minute disinfection period was required for efficacy against M. avium-intracellulare.

Conclusions:

  • Perasafe is a highly effective disinfectant for reprocessing fibreoptic bronchoscopes.
  • It provides a viable alternative to glutaraldehyde-based disinfectants for mycobacterial decontamination.
  • The study supports the use of Perasafe in infection control protocols for flexible endoscopes.

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