Effective reduction of Helicobacter pylori infection after upper gastrointestinal endoscopy by mechanical washing of the endoscope.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the frequency of endoscopic transmission of Helicobacter pylori and the efficiency of disinfection in different washing methods of endoscopes.


METHODS
IgG antibodies to H. pylori in patients prospectively followed who underwent first endoscopic examination at the National Taiwan University Hospital from 1982 to 1993 were measured. A total of 132 subjects who were negative for H. pylori IgG antibody test before examination and who were with negative endoscopic findings were enrolled. Among the 132 seronegative patients, 60 were examined before June 1989 when manual washing was adopted for endoscope cleaning and 72 received examination after mechanical washing were routinely used in our endoscopy unit.


RESULTS
During a follow-up period of 6 months or more, 5 patients in the manual washing group sero-converted while none in the mechanical washing group seroconverted (5/60 vs 0/72. p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested that the risk of endoscopic transmission of H. pylori is substantial and mechanical washing is efficient in preventing this iatrogenic spread.
Wu
M S
MS
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Wang
J T
JT
Yang
J C
JC
Wang
H H
HH
Sheu
J C
JC
Chen
D S
DS
Wang
T H
TH
D000328:Adult; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D007074:Immunoglobulin G