|
 |
 Home > Available Issues |
|
|
 Original Articles |
| Disinfection Efficacy of a New Endoscope Reprocessing System Using Electrolyzed Acid Water: An In-Use Evaluation |
| Jun Haeng Lee, M.D., Poong-Lyul Rhee, M.D., Jae-Hoon Song, M.D., Nam Yong Lee, M.D.*
Yun Jeong Lim, M.D., Jae Kwon Jang, M.D., Young-Ho Kim, M.D., Jae Jun Kim, M.D.
Seung Woon Paik, M.D., Jong Chul Rhee, M.D. and Kyoo Wan Choi, M.D. |
| Department of Medicine and Clinical Pathology*, Samsung Medical Center,
Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea |
Vol.33 Num.2 (p133~138)
|
|
|
Background:Electrolyzed acid water (EAW) is a new liquid chemical germicide containing a mixture of oxidizing species and prepared by mixing a small amount of salt with tap water in an electrolyzer. We attempted an in-use evaluation of the high-level disinfection capability of Cleantop WM-1?, a new endoscope reprocessing system using EAW.
Methods:Forty-seven flexible endoscopes were randomly collected just after upper endoscopic examinations and were disinfected using Cleantop WM-1?. Parts of the endoscopes without contact to EAW were disinfected with 75% ethyl alcohol. Immediately after the disinfection procedure, samples were taken from the biopsy channel (S-1), tip of the insertion tube (S- 2), the umbilical cord (S-3), and the angulation knob (S-4).
Results:In EAW-disinfected parts of the endo-scopes, the culture-positive rates were 4.3% (2/47) in S-1 samples and 12.8% (6/47) in S-2 samples. In ethyl alcohol-disinfected area, the culture-positive rates were 2.1% (1/47) in S-3 samples and 25.5% (12/47) in S-4 samples. The colony counts of culture-positive samples ranged from 1 to 144. Pseudomonas aeruginasa was recovered from the angulation knob of an endoscope, but other contaminating organisms were mostly:normal flora or opportunistic pathogens.
Conclusion:Although parts of the endoscopes disinfected with 75% ethyl alcohol were contaminated with more organisms than EAW-disinfected areas, Cleantop WM-1? showed a relatively good disinfection efficacy in reprocessing patient-used endoscopes. |
|
|
Keywords : Endoscope, Disinfection, Electrolyzed acid water |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
