ABSTRACT
Aims The role of air circulation through GI endoscopy system in microorganism airborne transmission has never beeninvestigated. We discuss the potential risk of transmission and potential improvements. Methods We investigated and described the air circulation into GI endoscopes proposed by companies (Fujifilm©,Olympus©, Pentax ©). Results The light source box contains a lamp, either Xenon or LED. The temperature of light is high and is regulated by aforced-air cooling system to maintain a stable temperature in the middle of the box. The air used by the forced-air coolingsystem is sucked from the closed environment of the patient through an aeration port, located close to the light source andevacuated out of the box by one or two ventilators. No filter existed to avoid the dispersion of particles outside of theprocessor box. The light source box also contains an insufflation air pump. The air is sucked from the light source boxthrough one or two holes of the air pump and pushed from the air pump into the air pipe of the endoscope through a plastictube. As the air pump did not had no dedicated HEPA filter, microorganisms transmission cannot be excluded. Conclusions Changes are necessary to prevent airborne transmission: exclusive use of an external CO2 pump andwrapping the endoscope platform by a plastic film that will limit microorganism scattering. In the era of pandemic virus withairborne transmission, improvement of GI ventilation system are necessary to avoid patients and health care workerscontamination.