ENDOSCOPE-INDUCED COLITIS - DESCRIPTION, PROBABLE CAUSE BY GLUTARALDEHYDE, AND PREVENTION

Citation
P. Rozen et al., ENDOSCOPE-INDUCED COLITIS - DESCRIPTION, PROBABLE CAUSE BY GLUTARALDEHYDE, AND PREVENTION, Gastrointestinal endoscopy, 40(5), 1994, pp. 547-553
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Journal title
ISSN journal
00165107
Volume
40
Issue
5
Year of publication
1994
Pages
547 - 553
Database
ISI
SICI code
0016-5107(1994)40:5<547:EC-DPC>2.0.ZU;2-6
Abstract
Six cases of acute, self-limited colitis that occurred after screening flexible sigmoidoscopy were deduced to be iatrogenic, probably caused by glutaraldehyde residues in the endoscopes after disinfection in an automatic disinfecting machine. The concentration of these residues w as indirectly estimated by conductivity measurements of electrolyte co ncentration in the rinse-water tank of the disinfecting machine during and after five cycles and also in fluid remaining on the surface of t he endoscopes and in the endoscope channels. After five cycles, residu es in both the rinse water and fluid in the endoscope channels contain ed the, equivalent of 0.2% glutaraldehyde. This was the result of a co mbination of technical and human errors. It can be prevented by changi ng the rinse water after each cycle, using forced air to dry the instr uments, and washing the endoscopes before use. Users of the automatic disinfecting machine should be aware of the potential accumulation of toxic levels of residues that remain in endoscopes after disinfection.