NAMRIP researchers publish results on the persistence of contamination in the channels of endoscopes after the washing cycle stipulated by NHS guidelines

Today NAMRIP researchers published their results showing the persistence of contamination in the channels of endoscopes after the washing cycle stipulated by NHS guidelines.

The increasing demand for endoscopic procedures poses new contamination challenges, given developing antimicrobial resistance worldwide and potential viral or prion diseases in populations at risk.

The team (Rod Herve and Bill Keevil) examined working channels from reusable luminal endoscopes used in recent years. They concluded that that wear effects in endoscope lumens may contribute to the adsorption of proteins, thus facilitating retention and survival of bacteria. As demonstrated by recent outbreaks worldwide despite recommended reprocessing, the development of antimicrobial-resistant bacterial strains, and the estimated prevalence of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in the UK particularly, combined with increasing demand for endoscopic procedures, call for sustained precautions and improved methods for the reprocessing of nonautoclavable, reusable surgical instruments. The paper was published in the journal Endoscopy, with the following citation:

Herve, Rodolphe and Keevil, Charles (2016) Persistent residual contamination in endoscope channels; a fluorescence epi-microscopy study. Endoscopy, 1-8. (doi:10.1055/s-0042-105744).

Current research is seeking to improve endoscope channels decontamination. The cross-disciplinary team funded by NAMRIP pump priming funds is evaluating the delivery of cold atmospheric plasma within long channels.