Evaluation of the microbicidal efficacy of Steris System I for digestive endoscopes using GERMANDE and ASTM validation protocols.

In the light of more and more invasive procedures being carried out in digestive endoscopy using sterile devices, it appears necessary to put in place a process of endoscope reprocessing capable of ensuring the complete elimination of micro-organisms contaminating the device. We undertook a study of the microbial efficacy of STERIS SYSTEM 1 (SS1) which purports to achieve this objective. The channels of a gastroscope and a colonoscope were contaminated with suspensions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger and Bacillus subtilis spores.

[Evaluation of 7 endoscope washer-disinfectors: bactericidal activity of the disinfectants, antibacterial efficacity of paired washer-disinfector products].

The authors studied seven automatic washer disinfectors for flexible endoscopes with two methods. The first method, a microdilution method, studied the bactericidal activity of the seven disinfectants against 21 strains: four reference strains, 14 hospital strains reported in the literature as nosocomial strains responsible for infections transmitted by flexible endoscopes and three vancomycin-resistant Enterococci. The ability of the seven automatic washer disinfectors to decontaminate flexible endoscopes following inoculation with four reference strains was studied with the second method.

[Validation of a sampling method for the channels of a flexible endoscope which is experimentally contaminated].

The increase of endoscopic actions and infectious risks explains of interest in endoscopic material maintenance processing. This purpose study was to set to the point and validate a microbiological flexibles endoscopes channels (suction, biopsy, air/water) sample method. An inoculum made of faeces contents material and microorganisms suspension (Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Candida albicans), at low or high concentration, was injected into digestive endoscope's channels.

Unusual cause of lethal pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Two patients admitted to two different medical wards of our institution following respiratory decompensation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were subsequently transferred to the same room of the medical intensive care unit (ICU) and intubated. Both patients developed invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and died soon after. Because COPD itself is rarely associated with lethal pulmonary aspergillosis, both cases were reviewed, and a retrospective investigation was conducted.