IL TRATTAMENTO DEGLI STRUMENTI NEI CENTRI DI ENDOSCOPIA DEL LAZIO

An anonymous postal questionnaire on the methods of cleaning and disinfecting endoscopy equipment in the area of Rome was mailed to 94 digestive endoscopy centres. Fourtythree units (45.7%) answered. Endoscope cleaning before disinfection is performed by all centres. Only 69.8% accomplishes brushing, and 58.2% carries out manual decontamination. The majority of centres employes a glutaraldehyde-phenate solution (44.2%) or 2% glutaraldehyde (37.2%). The most common disinfectant time of contact is 10-19 minutes (48.9%), apart from one case, all the other units presenting longer periods. The use-life of the disinfectant is ≤7 days in 51.2% of the units and >14 days in 37.2%. Internal channels is dried by 25.6% of the units. Only 13.9% carries out some form of sterilization procedures for biopsy forceps. The majority (86%) modifies their disinfection procedures with infectious disease patients. Written protocol is present in 62.8% of units. Quality control tests on the efficacy of the endoscopy disinfection procedures is carried out in 44.2% of the centres. Only 37.2% of centres are based in hospitals with an infection control surveillance programme. The results show an insufficient standardization in the disinfection procedures i.e.: internal channel brushing, use of not high-level disinfectants and insufficient sterilization of biopsy forceps. It would appear therefor necessary to promote the diffusion of the guidelines for endoscope disinfection.