Duodenoscopes have long been the subject of cross-contamination concerns, and a recent study found that more than 10 percent of scopes remained contaminated after reprocessing, Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News reports.
Researchers from Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora examined reprocessed duodenoscopes, putting the scopes through reprocessing protocols.
What you should know:
1. After reprocessing the scopes initially, 11.9 percent of cultures were positive. After reprocessing 36 scopes for a second time, 13.9 percent were positive, and after reprocessing eight scopes for a third time, two remained positive.
2. None of the patients treated with the reprocessed scopes developed infections.
Based on the findings, researchers recommended providers check the scopes frequently to ensure infections don't endanger patients.