GREEN ENDOSCOPY: RELATION BETWEEN STORAGE TIME AND MICROBIOLOGICAL SAFETY LEVEL

Document Type : Original Article

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1 Department of Environmental Medical Sciences, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research, Ain Shams University

2 Ain Shams University Specialized Hospital.

Abstract

The importance of applying sustainability concepts to endoscopes has recently been raised particularly in low to moderate-income countries. This concept aims to provide high-quality care, reducing negative impacts on the environment, healthcare workers, and the endoscopes themselves, without impairing patient safety. A total of 14 endoscopes (6 gastroscopes, 4 bronchoscopes and 4 duodenoscopes) were stored for 10-20 days after being high level disinfected using a standard technique according to recommended guidelines and sampled by flush-brush-flush sampling method (FBFSM) to screen for bacterial recontamination after storage. According to the study, no bacterial count difference between days (1-8) for gastroscopes, (1-11) for duodenoscopes and days (1-15) for bronchoscopes which means that the shelf life of the endoscope could be extended from 24 hours to 8 days for gastroscopes, 11 days for duodenoscopes and for bronchoscopes the duration could be extended to 15 days without reprocessing.
 
 

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