HOW MUCH ENDOSCOPIC PERSONNEL ARE POLLUTED BY GASTRIC CONTENT AT THE TIME OF GASTIRIC BIOPSY UNDER ENDOSCOPIC VISUAL CONTROLFROM A POINT OF VIEW OF INFECTION PREVENTION

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate how much endoscopists and assistants are polluted with gastrointestinal contents at the time of endoscopic gastric biopsy. Prior to endoscopy, the irrigation channel of gastrofiberscope was filled up with 5 ml of starch gel. And polluted spots with starch gel on the gown were stained by spray of 0.005% iodine solution after endoscopic biopsy of gastric lesions. Number of endoscopists and assistants involved in this study was 13 and 20, respectively. Number of biopsied specimen taken from each patient was varied from 3 to 13. Samples taken from biopsy channel of 5 patients were submitted for bacterial culture and its results were compared with that of the gown used by endoscopists and assistants. Moreover, the usefulness of plastic apron for infection prevention was investigated with questionnaire into the medical personnel involved in this study. Polluted spots by starchgel on the gown of endoscopists were remarkable in the abdominal area. Especially, the right side of the abdomen was more polluted by gastric contents than that of the left side. Pollution rate was 8/13 (61%) in the right and 6/13 (46%) in the left. However, interestingly enough, polluted spots of the gown by starch gel was more remarkable on the gown worn by assistants than that of endoscopists. Rate of pollution was over 80% at the abdominal area and 60% at the chest. Although bacterial species detected on the gown were different from that of the sample obtained from biopsy channel in the majority of cases, same species of bacteria noted in the irrigation channel were detected at the abdominal area of the gown in 1 of 5 assistants. These facts suggest the capability of bacterial infection between medical personnel and patients. This risk was seemed to be preventable by the use of a plastic apron.