New Developments in the Prevention of Gastrointestinal Scope-Related Infections

Abstract

Gastrointestinal endoscopes are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and are the most common medical device implicated in health care-associated outbreaks. Infections can be divided into endogenous or exogenous. Exogenous infections were associated with lapses in reprocessing. Recent outbreaks have occurred despite compliance with reprocessing guidelines and highlight the challenges with clearance of all organisms from the duodenoscopes and the potential role of biofilms in hindering adequate reprocessing. This review provides an overview of recent developments and the current understanding of the key contributing factors related to gastrointestinal endoscope-related infections and current approaches to identify and prevent these complications.

Keywords: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae; Duodenoscopes; Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP); Gastrointestinal endoscopy; High level disinfection.