National guidelines for endoscope cleaning may be updated due to research performed by University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s infection prevention team, according to a Medical Xpress report.
UPMC began investigating endoscope cleaning protocols after observing an uptick of antibiotic-resistant infections in patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in 2012.
Researchers found that standard cleaning protocols failed to kill all bacteria. UPMC began to use gas sterilization using for ethylene oxide for all scope disinfection.
National guidelines may call for endoscope sterilization, rather than high-level disinfection.
More articles on gastroenterology:
How to boost efficiency without sacrificing quality in GI
Balloon colonoscope improves polyp detection
10 statistics on gastroenterologist salary by subspecialty
UPMC began investigating endoscope cleaning protocols after observing an uptick of antibiotic-resistant infections in patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in 2012.
Researchers found that standard cleaning protocols failed to kill all bacteria. UPMC began to use gas sterilization using for ethylene oxide for all scope disinfection.
National guidelines may call for endoscope sterilization, rather than high-level disinfection.
More articles on gastroenterology:
How to boost efficiency without sacrificing quality in GI
Balloon colonoscope improves polyp detection
10 statistics on gastroenterologist salary by subspecialty