[Effectiveness of endoscope disinfection process]

The effectiveness of flexible endoscopes disinfection was evaluated. Since 1991 to 1994--157 inoculations were taken from endoscopic equipment--right after the examination and after their disinfection. Following the endoscopes examinations were contaminated by microorganisms normally resident in the throat, respiratory and digestive tracts, but also with bacteria (Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Proteus) which could be source of severe nosocomial infections. Three times there was Ps. aeruginosa on an endoscope after its disinfection, which demonstrates ineffectiveness of the whole sanitary process. Constant surveillance demands sterility of the fluids employed during the disinfection process. The improvement in sanitary level is achieved when endoscope exposition to glutaraldehyde has been elongated, to each endoscope a new solution of detergent has been applied, and sterile water handling (its production, storage, and use) has been polished up.