Is the environment of the endoscopy unit a reservoir of pathogens?
OBJECTIVE
Given the characteristic procedures involved in the endoscopy unit, the spread of pathogens is much more frequent in this unit than in other environments. However, there is a lack of data elucidating the existence of pathogens in the endoscopy unit. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of possible pathogens in the endoscopy unit.


METHODS
We performed environmental culture using samples from the endoscopy rooms of 2 tertiary hospitals. We used sterile cotton-tipped swabs moistened with sterile saline to swab the surfaces of 197 samples. Then, we cultured the swab in blood agar plate. Samples from the colonoscopy room were placed in thioglycollate broth to detect the presence of anaerobes. After 2 weeks of culture period, we counted the colony numbers.


RESULTS
The most commonly contaminated spots were the doctor's keyboard, nurse's cart, and nurse's mouse. The common organisms found were non-pathogenic bacterial microorganisms Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, and Streptococcus spp.. No definite anaerobe organism was detected in the colonoscopy room.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the organisms detected in the endoscopy unit were mainly non-pathogenic organisms, they might cause opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. Therefore, the environment of the endoscopy room should be managed appropriately; moreover, individual hand hygiene is important for preventing possible hospital-acquired infections.
Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Eun Sung
ES
Choi
Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Jae Hyuk
JH
Choi
Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Jung Min
JM
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Sang Min
SM
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Yoo Jin
YJ
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Yu Jin
YJ
Kang
Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Eun Soo
ES
Kim
Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Kwang Bum
KB
Cho
Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Kyung Sik
KS
Park
Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Byoung Kuk
BK
Jang
Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Jae Seok
JS
Hwang
Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Woo Jin
WJ
Chung
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Nam Hee
NH
Ryoo
Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Seong Woo
SW
Jeon
Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Min Kyu
MK
Jung
Endoscopy room; Environment; Pathogens