DECONTAMINATION
endoscopy-related infections. Dr. Vinteler explains that after the completion of the drying process, a single-use PlasmaBag is utilised. Plasma, containing ozone molecules, is insufflated into the bag ensuring the dry and disinfected state of the endoscope is maintained due to the biocidal effect of the ozone. It allows safe endoscope transportation while reducing the need for repeated reprocessing. This stores the endoscopes in a closed environment – dry, free of dust and pathogens – in a disinfected state, for 31 days.14,15
This solution allows for time
and space to be saved, improved mobility of the scopes while they are stored in the bag, as well as an improved level of hygiene.
High risk endoscopies: how effective drying and storage systems assist ICUs Professor Lepelletier warns that, as the transmission of the coronavirus presents an additional risk to patient safety, endoscopic units must enforce greater measures to prevent infections. Drying of endoscopes can be achieved in different ways, but most are time consuming. A new technique that dries endoscopes in an ultra-fast way is crucial to having the endoscope return more quickly to the emergency room or ICU. As clinicians need more scopes to support increased demand, caused by COVID-19 infections, they require greater assurance that the products they have readily available remain safe. By using the PlasmaTyphoon, drying and storage system hospitals can ensure a closed environment for the scope during transportation and easy transportation between hospital rooms and buildings is important to keeping up with high demand. 16 In addition, the ozone has the ability to reduce the potential remaining bacteria inside the working channel by 99.9%, which gives confidence that the instrument is perfectly disinfected.16
New solutions: Paul Caesar, reprocessing and infection control leader at Pentax Medical, points out that improving outcomes requires several approaches to avoid contamination of endoscopes. Concerns for patient health remain crucial as a result of increasing incidences of carbapenem- resistant Enterobacteriaceae and other infections, which may also be linked to improper cleaning and/or disinfection of a duodenoscope’s elevator mechanism. Technical solutions can contribute to the development of a safer device. Reducing parts of the endoscope, thus making it easier for staff to clean, improves the safety of the endoscope for the next patient. The need to reduce the risk of infection transmission has led to the development of a single-patient use, sterile, disposable elevator cap (Dec). With
this solution, there is also greater reprocessing efficiency, a 35% reduction in distal end reprocessing due to better access for cleaning and disinfection, as well as offering the benefit of disposability of the elevator. He adds that complying to all defined steps in reprocessing guidelines is essential. Periodic technical checks of the endoscope should be provided to have confidence in the quality of the endoscope. Additionally, regular checks on reprocessing outcomes should be performed, such as quick tests, for example protein residue check, or ATP, completed with periodic microbial sampling. In conclusion, at a time in which COVID-19
74 l
WWW.CLINICALSERVICESJOURNAL.COM
presents an additional infectious risk, we must seek to innovate new ways to better protect patients and medical professionals from life- threating infections. Although endoscopies remain safe and provide guided intubation for treatment and airway management of COVID-19 patients, they can be a potential risk of infection. At a time in which we are experiencing a global health pandemic, it is crucial to support hospitals and ICUs facing challenges resulting in risk of infection and fatal outcomes. When products and solutions are in place to prevent infection, 22% of the ‘ready for patient use’ duodenoscopes found contaminated is too great a statistic. In addition
OCTOBER 2020
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92
