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Compressed Air Alone Versus Ethanol Plus Compressed Air for Terminal Drying of Digestive Endoscopes：A Randomized
Shuhong Zhang1, Shengtao Liao1, Chuanfei Li1
1Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China; Chongqing Municipal Health Commission Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis and Complications, Chongqing 400010, China.
Background:
Ethanol flushing is commonly used during terminal drying of digestive endoscopes, but its impact on residual protein removal remains unclear. This study compared compressed air drying alone with ethanol plus compressed air drying during endoscope reprocessing.
Methods:
In this prospective randomized comparative study, 900 digestive endoscope reprocessing cycles were allocated 1:1 to ethanol plus compressed air drying or compressed air drying alone. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), microbial culture outcomes, and protein residue were assessed.
Results:
A total of 874 cycles were analyzed (435 ethanol plus compressed air and 439 compressed air drying alone). ATP values in both groups met the acceptable threshold (≤200 RLU). Disinfection qualification rates and microbial culture negativity rates did not differ significantly between groups (all P > 0.05). Baseline protein residue levels were comparable, while post-disinfection protein residue levels were significantly lower with compressed air drying alone (all P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Compressed air drying alone was associated with lower residual protein levels, with no significant differences in microbiological outcomes. These findings support further evaluation of compressed air drying as a potential terminal drying strategy.