[Single-use products in endoscopy-from consumables to single-use scopes]

Area of Science:

• Infectious disease transmission in healthcare settings.
• Medical device safety and efficacy.
• Health economics and cost-benefit analysis.

Context:

• Flexible endoscopes are crucial for diagnostics and therapeutics but pose infection risks.
• Endoscopy-associated infections are categorized as endogenous or exogenous.
• Current surveillance may underestimate the incidence of these infections.

Purpose:

• To review the role of single-use endoscopes in preventing exogenous infections.
• To compare the clinical and economic aspects of reusable versus single-use endoscopes.
• To highlight the need for further economic evaluation of single-use duodenoscopes.

Summary:

• Single-use endoscopes, such as bronchoscopes and recently approved duodenoscopes, aim to mitigate infection risks associated with reusable devices.
• While reusable endoscopes can lead to endogenous or exogenous infections, single-use alternatives offer enhanced patient safety.
• The economic evaluation of single-use endoscopes must consider avoided costs, including extended hospitalization and intensive care, not just initial device expenses.

Impact:

• Single-use endoscopes offer a promising strategy to enhance patient safety by reducing the transmission of infections.
• Further research is needed to fully assess the long-term economic benefits of single-use duodenoscopes.
• Adoption of single-use endoscopes could reshape infection control protocols in endoscopic procedures.