title: [Gastrointestinal endoscopy and infection].
abstract: During a gastrointestinal endoscopy, the device crosses natural cavities with always commensal bacterial flora, sometimes pathogenic flora. In all cases, the device is contaminated after the exam. The lack of effective disinfection exposes to the risks of transmission of germs. The infectious risk depends on the patient, the endoscopic procedure as well as on the technique of disinfection. The bacteraemia is usually not clinically significant. The endoscopic transmission of the germs from a patient to another one is very rare and is mostly due to a defect of disinfection. The procedures for disinfecting equipment should be known, established and controlled.
authors.affiliation: EPS Hédi Chaker, service de gastroentérologie, Sfax, Tunisie. boudabousmona@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boudabbous
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amouri
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mnif
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tahri
mesh_terms: D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D007239:Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D012307:Risk Factors