Identification and quantification of lower gastrointestinal flexible endoscopic microflora

After use in 29 patients undergoing mechanical bowel preparation and cleansing by an acceptable, standardized method, flexible colonoscopes and sigmoidoscopes were cultured for identification and enumeration of bacterial organisms that might be transmitted during subsequent endoscopic procedures. Using a unique, new application, RODAC aerobic and anaerobic cultures of the shaft surface showed no evidence of residual fecal contamination, sparse growth of cutaneous and airborne organisms on some instruments, and no aerobic or anaerobic bacterial growth on others. There were no post-endoscopy infectious complications. Our results would indicate that proper cleaning of the flexible endoscope using an acceptable method does prevent bacterial disease transmission from patient to patient.