Reprocessing in digestive endoscopy units in Lombardy: results of a regional survey.
OBJECTIVE
Inadequate disinfection of endoscopes and associated instrumentation can result in transmission of infections to patients. The aim of this study is to assess cleaning and disinfection practice in gastrointestinal endoscopy units in public and private institutions in the Lombardy region.


METHODS
We drafted a questionnaire which we e-mailed to all gastrointestinal centers in Lombardy.


RESULTS
A total of 79 centers responded (77%). All endoscopy units perform manual cleaning before disinfection. Automated endoscope reprocessors are available in 84.4% of the centers. Glutaraldehyde-based disinfectants are the most common employed (67% of centers). The time of exposure to the disinfectant is of 10 min in only 9.8% of the centers. The majority of endoscopy units modify their disinfection procedures in the case of infectious disease patients. In 59% of centers disposable material is only used once. In 37% of the endoscopy units instruments are dried with propanol.


CONCLUSIONS
The data collected suggest that cleaning and disinfection practices have improved in recent years, and that there is a good compliance with standard guidelines. There is still room for improvement in equipment, disinfection protocols, and traceability of instruments in order to improve safety for patients and staff.
Spinzi
G
G
Department of Gastroenterology, Valduce Hospital, Como, Italy. gispinz@tin.it
Fasoli
R
R
Centenaro
R
R
Minoli
G
G
D004203:Disinfection / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020776:Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal / Q000382:microbiology*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017743:Equipment Reuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005976:Glutaral / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management
D005976:Glutaral