Drying of endoscopes and its implication for microbial contamination: how safe is the use?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5327/Z1414-44251053Keywords:
Gastrointestinal endoscope, Infection control, Patient safety, Product storage, Equipment contaminationAbstract
Objetivo: Avaliar as práticas de secagem implementadas pelos serviços de endoscopia e determinar a ocorrência de crescimento microbiológico em equipamentos prontos para uso. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, envolvendo a avaliação da etapa de secagem dos endoscópios em oito serviços de endoscopia gastrointestinal. O processamento de 22 endoscópios gastrointestinais foi monitorado, e uma avaliação microbiológica foi realizada em 60 canais de endoscópios após a desinfecção de alto nível e o armazenamento subsequente. Resultados: A secagem externa não foi realizada em 50,0% (11/22) dos equipamentos após a limpeza, e 27,2% (6/22) não passaram por secagem interna dos canais. A contaminação foi detectada em 21,9% (7/32) das amostras de canais de endoscópios armazenados, com cargas microbianas variando de 2,0x101 a 2,5x105 UFC/mL. Além disso, 32,1% (9/28) dos canais apresentaram crescimento microbiano após a desinfecção de alto nível, com cargas microbianas variando de <101 a um máximo de 1,3x103 UFC/mL. A Pseudomonas sp. foi responsável por 50,0% (6/12) dos micro-organismos isolados encontrados nos canais do endoscópio. Conclusão: A presença de agentes infecciosos associada às práticas inadequadas, especialmente durante a secagem, evidentemente contribui para a persistência da contaminação microbiana nos endoscópios, representando um risco para os pacientes subsequentes.
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