Disinfection in upper-digestive-tract endoscopy in Britain

A contaminated endoscope may infect patients at upper-gastrointestinal-tract endoscopy (oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy and endoscopic cholangio-pancreatography) either by the transmission of infection from one patient to another or by inoculation of potentially pathogenic bacteria which have multiplied in the instrument and ancillary equipment during storage. These dangers can be eliminated by careful disinfection with glutaraldehyde, other aldehyde disinfectants, or povidone-iodine. Few centres in Britain are using an effective disinfection procedure and of those who have used glutaraldehyde (the most widely employed) 37% have had serious problems with staff sensitivity. A quick, effective, and safe method for the disinfection of fibreoptic instruments is urgently needed.