Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an essential, high‑impact procedure, yet evidence shows that duodenoscope contamination can persist despite reprocessing and routine microbiological surveillance.
A 2025 study by van der Ploeg and colleagues highlights that culture‑based detection methods may fail to identify ongoing contamination, allowing duodenoscopes to be returned to clinical use while still carrying microorganisms of gastrointestinal or oral origin.1
In their analysis, 33.3% of duodenoscope cultures tested positive, and when surveillance data were combined with scope‑usage records, the authors estimated that 12.3–23.7% of duodenoscope use may involve contaminated instruments, depending on detection assumptions.1 These findings underline a critical vulnerability: patients may be exposed before contamination is identified, even in settings with established monitoring programs.
The study further indicates that contamination can persist even when no reprocessing failures are identified, highlighting challenges related to complex scope design and intermittent microbial presence.1 As a result, outbreaks may remain undetected until patients present with colonisation or infection - often long after exposure.
The Ultra GI™ Cycle was developed to address this gap by strengthening infection prevention at the reprocessing step itself. Designed for use with STERRAD™ 100NX systems, it provides terminal sterilisation of hydrogen‑peroxide-compatible duodenoscopes, offering an additional layer of protection beyond conventional approaches.
By moving beyond reliance on detection alone, the Ultra GI Cycle supports a more proactive strategy for managing contamination risk in ERCP. For CSSD and OR teams facing increasing pressure to reduce healthcare‑associated infections and demonstrate best practice, it represents a practical step forward - helping to protect patients, staff, and confidence in GI endoscopy services.
Reference
1. van der Ploeg K et al. Contaminated duodenoscopes in ERCP: sensitivity of detection and risk of underdetection. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2025.
https://www.giejournal.org/article/S0016-5107(24)03412-6/fulltext
