Abstract
Background and Study Aims: Inadequate disinfection of endoscopes and associated instrumentation can result in
transmission of bacterial infections to patients. The aim of this study was to investigate
the disinfection procedures carried out in the Italian centers of digestive endoscopy.
Materials and Methods: An anonymous postal questionnaire on the methods of cleaning and disinfecting endoscopy
equipment in Italy was sent to 781 digestive endoscopy centers; 386 units (49.4 %)
replied.
Results: Automatic washers were available in 47.6 % of units. Nearly all the respondets (99.2 %)
cleaned the instruments before disinfection, using detergent, germicidal or enzymatic
cleaner, but only 69.7 % carried out brushing. Most centers (89.2 %) used a glutaraldehydebased
disinfectant (51 % used 2 % glutaraldehyde; 26.9 % used 0.4 % glutaraldehyde with
1.41 % phenol and 0.26 % sodium phenate; 5.9 % used either; 5.4 % did not specify
glutaraldehyde formulation). The contact time of the disinfectant was < 10 minutes
(1.8 %), between 10 and 19 minutes (47.4 %), between 20 and 29 minutes (31.9 %) and
≥ 30 minutes (16.6 %). The use-life of the disinfectant was ≥ 14 days in 27.3 % of
the centers with automatic washers and 30.8 % in all centers. Only 25.4 % of the centers
carried out some form of sterilization for biopsy forceps. The majority (83.4 %) modified
their disinfection procedures in the case of infectious disease patients. Quality
control tests on the efficacy of the endoscopy disinfection procedures were carried
out in 44.6 % of units. Only 43 % of the centers were based in hospitals with an infection
control (surveillance) program.
Conclusions: The data collected in the study showed that, in general, there is compliance with
the Society Italiana di Endoscopia Digestiva (SIED) and Society Italiana di Gastroenterologia
(SIGE) guidelines although with some important exceptions.
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