2019 Volume 7 Issue 2 Pages 83-87
Flexible endoscopy is frequently used in daily clinical settings. As its disinfection is essential for safe use, in 2016, the first guidebook for infection control of flexible otolaryngology endoscopes was published by the Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan (ORLJ). The purpose of the present study is to verify the method of cleaning and disinfection for endoscope that was described in the ORLJ guidebook.
We assessed the presence of bacteria on the flexible endoscopes from four institutions each time after performing endoscopy in 20 patients and that after cleaning and disinfection according to the method. Sampling was performed by wiping the surface of the operation and insertion parts of the endoscopy 10 times with a swab for bacteriological examination.
Before cleaning and disinfection, the detection rates of bacteria were 5% (1/20) and 70% (14/20) from the operation part and the insertion part of the endoscopy, respectively. After cleaning and disinfection, no bacteria were detected from either the operation part or the insertion part (0/20).
Although detection of parasites such as virus and chlamydia were impossible in the present study and further examinations were recommended, the method described in the guidebook was confirmed to be effective.
