title: Disinfection of upper gastrointestinal fibreoptic endoscopy equipment: an evaluation of a cetrimide chlorhexidine solution and glutaraldehyde.
abstract: There is little information available on the bacteriological contamination of upper gastrointestinal fibreoptic endoscopes during routine use and the effects of 'disinfecting solutions'. A bacteriological evaluation was therefore made of cleaning an endoscope and its ancillary equipment with (1) water, (2) an aqueous solution of 1% cetrimide with 0.1% chlorhexidine, and (3) activated aqueous 2% glutaraldehyde. All equipment, but particularly the endoscope itself, was found to be heavily contaminated after use with a wide variety of organisms of which 53% were Gram positive. Cleaning the endoscope and ancillary equipment with water and the cetrimide/chlorhexidine solution alone or in combination was inadequate to produce disinfection but immersion in glutaraldehyde for two minutes consistently produced sterile cultures with our sampling technique. A rapid and simple method for disinfection of endoscopic equipment is therefore recommended and we think this is especially suitable for busy endoscopy units.
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001645:Biguanides; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds; D002710:Chlorhexidine; D004064:Digestive System; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D019723:Endoscopes; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005976:Glutaral; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D001645:Biguanides; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D002710:Chlorhexidine; D005976:Glutaral