[Experimental study of bronchofibroscope disinfection].
BACKGROUND
Fibrobronchoscopes (FB) require high level disinfection following each procedure to prevent possible infectious complications. The aim of the present study was to evaluate three methods of disinfection of the FB: a) aspiration with a solution of iodine povidone (IP); b) immersion in fenolate glutaraldehyde (FG) diluted at 1:16, and c) aspiration of IP solution followed by immersion in FG. Cleaning of the FB with soap and water was also studied.


METHODS
The FB was contaminated with artificial samples (sterilized respiratory secretions mixed with a suspension of a microorganism at a concentration of 10(8)-10(9) UFC/ml) and was later washed with soap and water and disinfected with one of the 3 above mentioned methods. Samples were taken following contamination, cleaning, the aspiration with IP and at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 minutes in FG. The c/u/ml were counted. Disinfection was considered as a failure with > or = 1 c/u/ml at the end of each experience. This test was performed 97 times: 37 with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 17 with Serratia marcescens, 17 with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 13 with Staphylococcus aureus, and 13 with Candida albicans.


RESULTS
Cleaning with soap and water eliminated a mean of 99.9% of the microorganisms. IP failed to disinfect all the 5 microorganisms while FG and the association of IP and FG failed against S. marcescens and P. aeruginosa. The time of immersion in FG required for complete disinfection range from 5 to 20 minutes although in most cases only 5 to 10 minutes were needed.


CONCLUSIONS
The meticulous cleaning of the FB is essential for correct disinfection. Iodine povidone does not guarantee high level disinfection of the device while fenolate glutaraldehyde and iodine povidone plus fenolate glutaraldehyde may fail versus S. marcescens and P. aeruginosa.
Rodríguez-Froján
G
G
Departamento de Neumología, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona.
Castella
J
J
Ausina
V
V
Puzo
C
C
D020680:Bronchoscopes; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005976:Glutaral / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D010636:Phenols; D011206:Povidone-Iodine
D010636:Phenols; C091206:instrunet; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D005976:Glutaral
Estudio experimental de la desinfección del broncofibroscopio.