Current status of cleaning and disinfection for gastrointestinal endoscopy in China: a survey of 122 endoscopy units

Abstract

Background: Adequate compliance with the existing guidelines for cleaning and disinfection of gastrointestinal endoscopes and accessories is necessary to obtain high-level disinfection and prevent pathogen transmission.

Aim: To investigate cleaning and disinfection practice in China.

Methods: A questionnaire with 21 questions concerning gastrointestinal endoscopy reprocessing was sent by e-mail to 189 endoscopy units in China.

Results: One hundred and twenty-two (80.39%) of the 189 units responded. Compared with the low-workload units (<5000 procedures/year), the high-workload units (≥5000 procedures/year) had a significantly higher number of gastrointestinal endoscopes (25.8 ± 3.6 vs. 4.7 ± 1.8, p < 0.01) and the higher possessing rate of automated endoscope reprocessors (43.9% vs. 3.1%, p<0.01). Glutaraldehyde was the most commonly employed disinfectant (88.5%) in all the units. In 23/122 (18.8%) units, the exposure time to glutaraldehyde was <45 min in the case of infectious disease patients. Eighty-six of 122 (70.5%) units reused disposable materials, of which 21/86 (24.4%) reused disposable forceps and disposable polypectomy hooks, and 2/86 (1.6%) reused disposable injection needles intermittently.

Conclusion: Although gastrointestinal endoscopy has developed rapidly in China in the past decade, there is still room for improvement in the practice of endoscopy reprocessing, especially in middle-sized and small cities.