Wolfgang Merkens, Schülke & Mayr GmbH, was invited to address the annual Institute of Decontamination Sciences (IDSc) conference in November 2018. Here, The Clinical Services Journal provides highlights from his presentation.
Contaminated endoscopes have been linked to many outbreaks of device-related nosocomial infections, although the actual incidence of endoscopy-related infections is unknown.1
Flexible endoscopes are reusable but highly complex devices which require considerable care during the essential decontamination process. Most flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes cannot withstand the conditions used in a steam sterilisation process. So, unlike rigid endoscopes, they cannot be autoclaved yet still present a risk of infection if contaminated during use.2 This increases the possibility of settlement of biofilm-producing species.1
The greatest potential infection risk is through the transmission of microbes from one patient to another using a contaminated endoscope, and studies have suggested that endoscopes are potential vectors for the transmission of Helicobacter pylori.2 Additionally, there is the possibility of transmitting infection to healthcare staff. Healthcare workers are also at potential risk of infection with blood-borne viruses.2
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