Introduction and objective:

This work describes the importance of adopting effective methods of sampling reprocessed endoscopes for the detection of microorganisms adhered to the internal walls of these devices. The objective of this work is to compare the rate of bacterial contamination of the channels of reprocessed endoscopes, through irrigation water culture and that obtained after brushing the channels. A secondary objective was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of the pathogens isolated in both methods.

Method:

A total of 26 endoscopes (duodenoscopes, gastroscopes, colonoscopes, bronchoscopes and echoendoscopes) were subjected to automatic cleaning and reprocessing before use in patients at Hospital Juárez de México. Cleaned and reprocessed endoscopes were simultaneously subjected to two bacteriological test methods based on no brushing (method A) and brushing (method B) of the channels. Bacterial strains isolated after carcass culture were identified to genus and species level and subjected to antimicrobial resistance testing.

Results:

Method A revealed zero rate of residual bacterial contamination in both channels (suction and working). The microbiological results obtained by method B revealed bacterial contamination rates of 30.7%. Bacterial strains belonging to the families Enterobacteriaceae, Bacillaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Micrococcaceae and Staphylococcaceae were identified. High rates of antimicrobial resistance were detected against 12 tested antibiotics from eight different families.

Conclusion:

Implementation of microbiological surveillance of endoscope reprocessing with modified sampling methods is necessary to prevent healthcare-associated infections from endoscopic procedures.

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