title: A randomised single-blind comparison of the effectiveness of Tristel Fuse (chlorine dioxide) as an office-based fluid soak, with Cidex OPA (ortho-phthaldehyde) using an automated endoscopic reprocessor (AER) as high-level disinfection for flexible cystoscopes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness, safety and cost of Tristel Fuse (chlorine dioxide) with Cidex OPA (ortho-phthaldehyde; 1,2-benzenedicarboxaldehyde) in an automated endoscopic reprocessor (AER) for high-level disinfection of flexible cystoscopes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomised single-blind study comparing the high-level disinfectants Tristel Fuse as a simple office-based soak and Cidex OPA using an AER was performed. Participants were 'blinded' to the agent used for disinfection of the flexible cystoscopes. All patients had negative mid-stream urine at baseline, (MSU) no symptoms suggestive of urinary tract infection (UTI) on the day of investigation, no recent antibiotic use or current indwelling urinary catheter. Patients who underwent cystoscopic biopsy during the procedure were excluded. A urine analysis was done before and 3-5 days after cystoscopy and multiple equipment cultures were performed. The Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6 + two questions from the 'long-form'), symptom and quality-of-life scores were assessed before and after cystoscopy as were ease-of-use assessments and a full cost analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 180 of 465 screened participants were randomised 1:1 and the mean age was 72.1 years, 17% were females and 57% of procedures were performed for bladder tumour surveillance. The urine analysis was positive in 5.4% of patients in each group and 29% (Tristel) vs 20% (Cidex) of patients had urinary leukocyturia (p = ns) after cystoscopy. The turnover (minutes per cycle) was 7.5 (Tristel) vs 26.7 (Cidex). The per-procedure costs were $11.67 (American dollars) for Tristel Fuse and $21.82 for Cidex OPA with fixed costs of $4788 for Tristel Fuse and $60,514 for Cidex OPA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tristel Fuse appears to be as effective and more cost-effective than Cidex OPA for high-level disinfection of flexible cystoscopes. This has significant cost implications for the office urologist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tauranga Hospital, Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Tauranga.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gilling
authors.forename: Rana M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Reuther
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Addidle
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lockhart
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Frampton
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Fraundorfer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017606:Chlorine Compounds / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D020684:Cystoscopes / Q000382:microbiology*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005976:Glutaral / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010087:Oxides / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D009764:o-Phthalaldehyde / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D017606:Chlorine Compounds; D004202:Disinfectants; D010087:Oxides; D009764:o-Phthalaldehyde; C025109:chlorine dioxide; D005976:Glutaral
keywords: Cidex-OPA; chlorine dioxide; flexible cystoscopy; high-level disinfection; randomised trial