Storage interval not linked to endoscope contamination

Editor's Note

In this study of flexible gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopes, none demonstrated clinically relevant contamination at hang times ranging from 7 to 555 days, and most remained uncontaminated up to 56 days after reprocessing.

The data suggest that properly cleaned and disinfected GI endoscopes could be stored safely for longer intervals than currently recommended, the authors say.

Association Between Storage Interval and Contamination of Reprocessed Flexible Endoscopes in a Pediatric Gastrointestinal Procedural Unit - Volume 38 Issue 2 - Patricia Scanlon, Kathleen Flaherty, Erik A. Reilly, Ellen G. Barth, Gail Potter-Bynoe, Jeff Cardini, Ann Marie Riley, Alexander J. McAdam, Thomas J. Sandora