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VIDEO: Focus remains on safe endoscope reprocessing
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LOS ANGELES — In this exclusive video from GI Outlook 2019, Bret T. Petersen, MD, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., discusses the safe and adequate reprocessing of endoscopes.
“Since 2015, much of our field has been focused on the need to attend to adequate endoscope reprocessing to avoid further outbreaks like those we’ve seen in multiple major centers from duodenoscopes,” Petersen told Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease. “The advice at the present time hasn’t changed greatly, in that we’re still emphasizing the importance of attending to pre-cleaning, cleaning, high-level disinfection, adequate drying and appropriate storage.”
Petersen said the manual components remain weak points in the process, as well as adequate drying after high-level disinfection. However, although outbreaks still occur, overall incidence has been in decline.
FDA oversight remains the most active current issue, Petersen said, with a focus on post-market surveillance studies. Two duodenoscope companies have completed their studies and are awaiting a compilation of all their data, and data from the third company should be ready by the end of the year.
“All of them are, unfortunately showing persistent levels of contamination,” Petersen said. “This brings to play the importance of single-use devices, including colonoscopes and duodenoscopes, which are very close to the marketplace.”
Disclosures: Petersen reports consulting for Boston Scientific and Olympus, as well as stock ownership of TS03.