Effect of an automated flexible endoscope channel brushing system on improving reprocessing quality: a randomized...

Area of Science:

• Medical device technology
• Infection control
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Meticulous channel brushing is critical for preventing endoscopy-associated infections.
• Manual channel brushing is often omitted in clinical practice.
• Automated systems offer a potential solution to improve reprocessing quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an automated flexible endoscope channel brushing system (AECBS).
• To compare the reprocessing quality achieved by AECBS versus manual brushing.
• To assess the impact of AECBS on reducing microbial contamination in endoscopes.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, randomized controlled study was conducted.
• Endoscopes were divided into an automated group (AECBS) and a manual group.
• Cultures were taken after high-level disinfection and drying to determine the proportion of positive cultures.

Main Results:

• A significantly lower proportion of endoscopes showed positive cultures in the automated group (15.2%) compared to the manual group (23.4%).
• The automated flexible endoscope channel brushing system demonstrated superior performance in reducing microbial load.
• The study analyzed 204 endoscopes in the auto group and 205 in the manual group.

Conclusions:

• AECBS effectively reduces bioburden and enhances the reprocessing quality of gastroscopes and colonoscopes.
• The automated system shows potential to replace manual brushing, thereby lowering the risk of endoscopy-associated infections.
• AECBS provides a novel option for optimizing endoscope reprocessing protocols.