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Does the Reprocessing of Endoscopes Have to Take Place Immediately after Pre-Cleaning? A First Evaluation
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Vanessa M Eichel, Jonas M Jabs, Samy Unser, Nico T Mutters, Martin Scherrer
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Clin Endosc 2021;54(4):526-533. Published online July 14, 2021
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5946/ce.2020.238
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 Abstract
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- Background
/Aims: The recommendations on the time interval between pre-cleaning and reprocessing of endoscopes differ in international guidelines, with a low level of evidence. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of postponing reprocessing on the reprocessing quality after pre-cleaning the flexible endoscopes.
Methods
We reprocessed 124 standardized test tubes simulating endoscope channels after soiling and contamination and determined the reprocessing performance. In addition, we examined contaminated gastroscopes, colonoscopes, and bronchoscopes. The duration of interim storage after pre-cleaning was 16 h for 100 test tubes and up to 24 h for 18 endoscopes. We determined the residual protein content and germ load as markers for cleaning and disinfection performance. In addition, we determined biofilm formation by photometry of crystal violet staining.
Results
All test tubes and flexible endoscopes showed residual protein content and germ load significantly below legally prescribed threshold values, independent of the interval between pre-cleaning and reprocessing.
Conclusions
Our findings indicate that flexible endoscopes could be stored overnight after pre-cleaning without any influence on the quality of reprocessing. While ensuring patient safety, this could simplify logistical processes and enable cost savings.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by  - Reusable Medical Device Pre-Cleaning in Care Units: What Are the Indicators to Prevent Biofilm Formation and Control Occupational Biological Risk?
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Journal of Hospital Infection.2024; 152: 66. CrossRef - Anlage 8: Anforderungen an die Hygiene bei der Aufbereitung thermolabiler Endoskope
Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz.2024; 67(12): 1410. CrossRef - Preliminary Study: Disinfection of Colonoscope Using a Reprocessing System Based on a Hydrodynamic Model with Ozonated Water
Maycon Crispim de Oliveira Carvalho, Adriana Barrinha Fernandes, Henrique Cunha Carvalho, Renato Amaro Zângaro, Carlos José de Lima
Ozone: Science & Engineering.2023; 45(4): 419. CrossRef - Endoscopes that Complete Pre-Cleaning may be Stored Overnight until Next Morning for the Subsequent Reprocessing
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Clinical Endoscopy.2021; 54(4): 449. CrossRef - Aufbereitung flexibler Endoskope – offene Fragen und Antworten
Martin Scherrer
Krankenhaushygiene up2date.2021; 16(04): 397. CrossRef
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