Cleaning and disinfection of endoscopes: have there been recent improvements?

to determine if there have been improvements in the manner in which endoscopes are being cleaned and disinfected since our previous study in 1987. In that study of 123 hospitals, in only 45% of institutions did cleaning and disinfection appear to be satisfactory.

One hundred and twenty-two questionnaires were sent to the endoscopy charge nurse of the hospitals identifiable from our previous study. To ensure the collection of complete information from these hospitals, in those from whom a written reply was not received, the information was obtained by persistent telephone contact. The criteria used to assess adequate cleaning and disinfection were the same as in our previous study. These were based on recommendations of learned bodies and the literature.

A complete cross section of hospitals from all States and Territories in Australia was surveyed. These were both public and private, primary care to tertiary referral, teaching and non-teaching, city and country.

One hundred and twenty-three replies were obtained from the 122 hospitals surveyed. In 75% cleaning and disinfection of endoscopes appeared to be satisfactory. Adequate cleaning procedures were noted in 77% compared with 60% in the 1987 survey. The use of appropriate disinfection increased to 94% from 62% previously.

We found that since 1987 there had been a considerable improvement in the cleaning and disinfection of endoscopes in the hospitals surveyed.