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Balancing safety with sustainability

Could we see a wholesale move to single-use scopes, in the future, or is the cost to the environment just too great? Could there be a middle ground, and how can we achieve a balance between protecting patients and protecting the planet? These were just some of the questions debated by experts at a recent online event, hosted by Pentax Medical. Louise Frampton reports.

Significant progress has been achieved in improving patient safety in endoscopy over the years – the sector has seen significant innovation in device design, improvements in processes and collaboration between healthcare providers and industry. However, infection prevention remains a crucial topic in endoscopy. While single-use solutions are now coming on to the market to tackle issues around infection risk, balancing patient safety and sustainability is a challenge that continues to be debated in the healthcare sector.

With this in mind, Pentax Medical hosted an online discussion exploring these challenges – featuring international experts from both healthcare and industry. Opening the discussion was Professor Rocco Trisolini, director, interventional pulmonary unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy. He outlined the risk of infection from bronchoscopes.

In September 2015, a communication from the FDA highlighted 109 medical device reports regarding infection or contamination from flexible bronchoscopes for the period of 2010-2014 – 50 of these reports were in 2014. In June 2021, the FDA issued another communication outlining that, between 2015 and 2020, there were 857 reports regarding infection or contamination from flexible bronchoscopes and seven associated deaths. 

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Upcoming Events

Central Sterilising Club - Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

Crowne Plaza at Gerrard’s Cross
15th April 2024 – 16th April 2024

DECON UK 2024

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
17th April 2024

Infection Prevention & Control

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
23rd - 24th April 2024

Theatres & Decontamination Conference 2024

Coventry Building Society Arena
16th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Birmingham

Millennium Point, Birmingham
18th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Exeter

University of Exeter
22nd June 2024

Access the latest issue of Clinical Services Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Clinical Services Journal app from your device's App store

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