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Are ‘patient-ready’ endoscopes free of microbial contamination?

Are ‘patient-ready’ endoscopes free of microbial contamination?

Bacterial contamination may persist on endoscopes reprocessed per guidelines. Survival in biofilm protects them from HLD. This can lead to multidrug resistant bacterial outbreaks.

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Gastrointestinal endoscopies are high volume procedures performed worldwide.1–5 Researchers have linked inadequate reprocessing to outbreaks involving multidrug resistant bacteria.6

Bacterial contamination may persist on endoscopes despite reprocessing according to guidelines and endoscope instructions for use.1,6,7

Residual bacterial contamination survives within biofilm. High-level disinfection may be unable to completely remove biofilm.8–12

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