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Margaret Butler, Clinical Nurse Educator, Operating Suite. Angela Juul, Nursing Unit Manager, Gastroenterology Diagnostic Unit, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. |
Glutaraldehyde is currently used for the cold disinfection of instruments, in particular endoscopes. Evidence has accumulated showing glutaraldehyde as a contact irritant and sensitiser on the skin and mucous membranes, therefore any means of reducing the use of glutaraldehyde need to be investigated. Current practice for decontamination of endoscopes involves soaking in glutaraldehyde prior to use after the endoscope has been stored overnight or longer. However since implementation of this policy improved cleaning apparatus and fully submersible endoscopes have developed. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that sterility checks on endoscopes not soaked in glutaraldehyde after storage differ from those soaked in glutaraldehyde. The subjects of the study were gastroscopes and colonoscopes used in the Operating Suite and Gastroenterology Diagnostic Unit. Over a 5 month period, washings were taken from the air/water and suction channels of endoscopes before pre-use soaking and after pre-use soaking and sent for sterility checks. The results showed 2 results of growth in the pre-soak scopes (N=45) and 4 results of growth in the post-soaked scopes (N=45). Microorganisms detected included Pseudomonas sp., Escherichna coli, Staphylococcus epidermis and gram negative rods. Chi Square analysis indicated no significant difference in the amount of growth detected before or after soaking. It should be noted that all growth detected was from scopes used in the operating suite, which may indicate differences in cleaning techniques. In conclusion, although the Study showed no significant difference, the fact that there was growth cannot be overlooked.
Poster presented at St. Vincent's Campus Research Symposium September 1993.
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