Assessment of endoscope cleaning and disinfection efficacy, and the impact of endoscope storage on the microbiological safety level.

AIMS: The aim of the study was microbiological evaluation of the efficacy of cleaning and disinfection of endoscopes carried out with the use of endoscope washer-disinfector EndoCleaner and evaluation of the endoscope storage cabinet providing a controlled environment. METHODS AND RESULTS: The efficacy evaluation of endoscope cleaning and disinfection using the endoscope washer-disinfector EndoClener (AORT) was carried out in accordance with the PN-EN ISO 15883 standard, and the validity of endoscope storage cabinet (TRIBO LLC) was evaluated in accordance with the PN-EN 16442 standard. The micro-organism tested used in the study were as follows: Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC® 15442™, Enterococcus faecium ATCC® 12952™, Clostridium sporogenes ATCC® 19404™ (spores), Candida albicans ATCC® 90028™ and Aspergillus brasiliensis DSM® 1988™ (surrogate for Asperigllus niger ATCC® 16404™). It was demonstrated that the endoscope reprocessing carried out in the washer-disinfector EndoCleaner guaranteed the elimination of the micro-organism tested, and the tested endoscope storage cabinet met the microbiological criteria defined by the Polish standard PN-EN 16442 in the scope of tests. CONCLUSION: The obtained results showed that usage of washer-disinfector EndoCleaner and endoscope storage cabinet ensures the microbiological safety of using endoscopes. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: The increase in the frequency of procedures applying endoscopes contributes to the increased risk of transmission of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms remaining after insufficient cleaning and disinfection of these devices. Research allows assessing the effectiveness of antimicrobial cleaning and disinfection of endoscopes and the safety of storing this equipment in an endoscope cabinet. A particularly innovative aspect is equipping the cabinet with a module generating the phenomenon of radiant catalytic ionization, which is a unique solution on the market. This is one of the very few works involving the assessment of each stage, that is contamination, washing and disinfection, drying and storage of endoscopes.

Elimination of Klebsiella pneumoniae NDM from the air and selected surfaces in hospital using radiant catalytic ionization.

Due to increasing antibiotic resistance Klebsiella pneumoniae is a serious threat for the hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was the assessment of radiant catalytic ionization (RCI) efficacy on K. pneumoniae reduction in the air and on selected surfaces. Four K. pneumoniae NDM and ESBLs-producing strains were included in the study. Three types of surface were tested: cotton-polyester, terry and PVC. It was found that RCI significantly reduced the number of bacteria from all types of surface (terry: 0·56-1·22 log CFU m2 , cotton-polyester: 2·15-3·71 log CFU per m2 , PVC: 4·45-4·92 log CFU per m2 ) as well as from the air (1·80 log CFU per m3 ). The RCI technology may be a useful disinfection method in hospitals. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Microbial contamination of air and surfaces in hospitals play an important role in healthcare-associated infections. The aim was the assessment of Klebsiella pneumoniae elimination using radiant catalytic ionization (RCI). K. pneumoniae are aetiological agent of nosocomial infections, such as: pneumonia, infections of urinary tract, blood, e.t.c. The strains producing the New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamases are one of the greatest epidemiological threat. The use of RCI eliminate the tested bacteria from the hospital environment, but can also be effective in food processing plants or public facilities, ensuring the safety of people and products. This research is scarce in references and has a large innovation and application potential.