Thai Journal of Gastroenterology

Article :
Results of Gastroscope Bacterial Decontamination by Enzymatic Detergent Compared to Chlorhexidine

Author :
Sorapat Eakthunyasakul, M.D.
Pongpan Nunthapisud, M.Sc.
Pradermchai Kongkam, M.D.
Rungsun Rerknimitr, M.D.

Abstract :

Background: Currently, the standard practice for endoscope reprocessing requires high level of disin-
fection.  Chlorhexidine is one of the solutions that have been accepted for endoscope cleaning.  However, persistent bacterial contamination due to the bacterial biofilm may occur.  Enzymatic detergent (3E-ZYME, Hartfordshire, UK) has been proposed to use in order to reduce this problem but the efficacy of this detergent has never been compared to chlorhexidine.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of enzymatic detergent with chlorhexidine for gastroscope bacterial
decontamination. 

Materials and Methods: A prospective randomized controlled study was undertaken to evaluate the
disinfection capacity of gastroscope by these 2 agents.  There were 260 samples collected from 5 different
gastroscopes.  Manual cleaning was done for 10 minutes by these 2 agents separately (n = 130 each).  Then all scopes underwent 2% glutaraldehyde soaking for 20 minutes.  After 70% alcohol rinsed, sterile normal saline was fushed into each scope channel and 40 mL of sample was collected.  The sample was sent for aerobic bacterial culture after membrane filtered method. Significant bacterial growth was defined as a colony count more than 180 cfu/mL. (MMWR Recomm 2003)

Results: The significant positive culture rates from enzymatic detergent and chlorhexidine group were
4.6% (n = 6) and 3.1% (n = 4) respectively. Pseudomonas species was the main organism detected from both groups (60%).  Multiple organisms were found from 4 specimens (enzymatic detergent group = 1, chorhexidine group = 3) 

Conclusion: The rate of significant bacterial contamination of gastroscopes after enzymatic bacterial
decontamination was low but not significantly lower than conventional chlorhexidine cleaning technique.  Enzymatic detergent was not better than 4% chlorhexidine for gastroscope bacterial decontamination.

[Thai J Gastroenterol 2005; 6(2): 81-86]

Keyword :
gastroscope, bacterial decontamination, enzymatic detergent, chlorhexidine

PDF Download :
file/Thai-Journal-of-gastroenterology-vol-6-no-2-4678336.pdf