Stated Contamination Rates Associated With Reusable Colonoscopes And Gastroscopes Amongst European Endoscopists: A Survey-Based Investigation

Aims Studies have demonstrated contamination rates of reusable colonoscopes and gastroscopes, which have led to several updates of reprocessing guidelines. We aimed to investigate the contamination rate of colonoscopes and gastroscopes stated amongst gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopist in five European countries.

Methods Between 24 September 2020 and 12 October 2020, a total of 459 GI endoscopists from the UK (n = 100), France (n = 90), Germany (n = 72), Italy (n = 99) and Spain (n = 99) answered an electronic survey concerning perceived contamination rates and reprocessing setups. Data were collected using QuestionPro and analysed using Microsoft Excel.

Results Across all five countries the average stated contamination rate was 12.6 % and 10.2 % for colonoscopes and gastroscopes, respectively. Italian GI endoscopists reported the highest contamination rate (21.2 % for colonoscopes and 12.7 % for gastroscopes), whereas GI endoscopists from the UK reported the lowest contamination rate (6.5 % for colonoscopes and 7.2 % for gastroscopes). The majority used high-level disinfection (HLD, [31.2 %]) followed by double HLD (25.7 %), whereas 25.9 % of the respondents were unaware of the reprocessing setup at their endoscopy unit. There were no significant differences between the stated contamination rate and reprocessing method (p = 0.2293). Endoscopists from the UK were most often unaware of the reprocessing method used (59.0 %) followed by endoscopists from France (23.3 %). There were no significant differences between stated contamination rates and annual procedure volume (p = 0.0602).

Conclusions Our findings indicate that contamination issues of colonoscopes and gastroscopes are acknowledged amongst European GI endoscopists. The average stated contamination rate across countries was 12.6 % and 10.2 % for colonoscopes and gastroscopes, respectively. A total of 26 % of the endoscopists were unaware of the reprocessing setup at their endoscopy unit.

Citation Larsen S, Klinten Ockert L, Kryger Rindorf D et al. eP518 STATED CONTAMINATION RATES ASSOCIATED WITH REUSABLE COLONOSCOPES AND GASTROSCOPES AMONGST EUROPEAN ENDOSCOPISTS: A SURVEY-BASED INVESTIGATION. Endoscopy 2021; 53: S270.

Publication History

Article published online:
19 March 2021