[Clinical importance of guideline for decontamination of endoscopes in urological field: verification of 3 processes].
Clinical guideline for decontamination of endoscopes in urological field has not been provided, although endoscopic examination should be done in aseptic circumstance.


METHODS
From decontamination processes, following 3 points were selected for verification: 1) Volume of residual water in flexible scope after rinsing, estimated by weight change. 2) Concentration of eluted disinfectant from flexible scope after standard rinsing procedure for gastrointestinal endoscope. 3) Observation of possible damage of telescope, caused by repeat autoclaving.


RESULTS
Wet condition of flexible scope could be suspected in 60 hours in room temperature. Eluted disinfectants were detected, but in harmless level. Repeated autoclaving merely caused minor damage, which does not interfere clinical use.


CONCLUSIONS
We obtained a couple of evidences with cautions in decontamination processes for endoscopes. Urgent requirement of standardization in this field should be discussed widely.
Yanaihara
Hitoshi
H
Department of Urology, Saitama Medical School.
Ishibashi
Kenjirou
K
Kokyou
Shuuichirou
S
Hagiuda
Jun
J
Ashimine
Satoshi
S
Kuroda
Isao
I
Nakahira
Youko
Y
Yoshimura
Ichirou
I
Tsukamoto
Takuji
T
Ueno
Munehisa
M
Deguchi
Nobuhiro
N
D004202:Disinfectants; D019723:Endoscopes / Q000382:microbiology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D013242:Sterilization; D014572:Urology / Q000592:standards; D009764:o-Phthalaldehyde
D004202:Disinfectants; D009764:o-Phthalaldehyde