Good clinical practice for endoscope rinsing

Czech version

Authors: Kožíšek F.
Authors‘ workplace: Národní referenční centrum pro pitnou vodu, Státní zdravotní ústav, Praha
Published in: Gastroent Hepatol 2018; 72(6): 531-533
Category: Digestive Endoscopy: Original Article
doi: https://doi.org/10.14735/amgh2018531

Overview

If an endoscope is reprocessed and its material only allows chemical disinfection, it has to be finally rinsed with clean water to remove traces of disinfectant. Procedures for cleaning, disinfection, and rinsing are obligatory and defined by legislation in the Czech Republic. The legislation accepts rinsing of digestive endoscopes with either purified water (aqua purificata) or tap drinking water. Tap water may be used under the condition that the source undergo semiannual control according to the guidelines for potable water and monitoring. However, this approach is not scientifically correct because the guidelines are not designed to control for risky microorganisms, which may occur or grow in domestic distribution systems or in taps (Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Mycobacterium and Legionella). Also, the frequency of control does not provide any guarantee of water safety if no systematic safety measures are implemented. That is why the endoscopes should be rinsed either with purified water or tap water filtered through a 0.1–0.2 µm filter or disinfected by UV radiation. The most suitable indicators of safety are those listed specifically for this purpose in the relevant technical standard.

Key words:

endoscopy – rinse water – guidelines

Submitted: 31. 1. 2018

Accepted: 16. 4. 2018

The author declares he has no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.

The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE „uniform requirements“ for biomedical papers.

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