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hanging — keeps moisture from remaining in channels, which prevents bacteria
from replicating and, ultimately, biofilm from forming.
Her study shows that a wide range of microorganisms develop in built up
biofilm and accumulate more rapidly, compared with traditional biofilm that
forms when surfaces are bathed in fluid, a finding that's more prevalent when
glutaraldehyde is used to reprocess endoscopes instead of accelerated hydrogen
peroxide (AHP). High-level disinfection with glutaraldehyde is less effective
than AHP for killing microorganisms in either traditional or built up biofilm,
says the study, which suggests potentially harmful organisms stand a greater
chance of survival if biofilm is permitted to build up in endoscope channels.
Real-time testing
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) tests detect contamination that remains in endo-
scope channels, indicating the instruments need to re-cleaned before undergo-
ing automatic reprocessing.
Dr. Alfa co-authored a study in the American Journal of Infection Control
(
tinyurl.com/puc5ohb)
that showed 96% of 120 channels in 20 colonoscopes
and 20 duodenoscopes at a busy GI center met the acceptable ATP bench-
mark (less than 200 relative light units). Five out of the 120 channels that did
not meet the benchmark were elevator guide-wire channels, notes the study,
which concludes that nearly all of the endoscopes cleaned according to
manufacturers' directions met acceptable clean benchmarks of the ATP test.
That suggests the test is an effective
and reliable way to audit the perform-
ance of endoscope reprocessing
staffs.
Results of ATP tests are available in a
matter of minutes, which means they
provide real-time feedback on endo-
scope cleaning before automated high-
E N D O S C O P E R E P R O C E S S I N G
MACHINE WASH
Automatic endo-
scope reprocessors
help ensure key
steps are performed
properly.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
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