Abstract
Aims and background: It is well known that strongly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) has a potent bactericidal effect. We examined residual viruses on endoscopes that were used in HBV-positive and HCV -positive patients and evaluated the effectiveness of SAEW in cleaning/disinfecting the endoscopes. Material and Methods : A random sampling of endoscopes that were used in 109 endoscopies on HBV-positive patients and 107 endoscopies on HCV-positive patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for various reasons was taken to determine the degree of HBV and HCV contamination. Ten ml of physiological saline was injected through the biopsy channel of the endoscopes and collected at the distal end to be assayed using the PCR method. After examination, the endoscopes were treated with air aspiration, then 200 ml of tap water that contained an enzyme detergent was absorbed, and SAEW was aspirated after cleaning with a brush. After each procedure, the PCR method was used for comparison and to investigate the presence of residual viruses with PCR methods. Results : In saline collected after air aspiration, viruses were detected in 39 of the 109 endoscopies performed on HBV patients and 20 of the 107 HCV patients. In the saline aspirated with the tap water that contained an enzyme detergent, HBV was detected in 12 of the 109 endoscopes and HCV was detected in 6 from 107 scopes. However, neither HBV nor HCV was detected after cleaning the endoscopes manually with a brush and disinfected the scope with SAEW. Conclusion : SAEW is effective in cleaning and disinfecting the endoscopes contaminated with HBV and HCV.
