Reuse of enzymatic detergent: evaluation of the impact of microbial contamination on gastroscopes cleaning

Abstract

Introduction: The reuse of enzymatic detergent is a practice used in the processing of gastrointestinal endoscopes. Objective: To evaluate the impact of microbial contamination of the enzymatic detergent solution, when reused, on the gastroscope cleaning. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out from the microbiological analysis of endoscopes and the enzymatic detergent solution used to clean this equipment. The aliquots collected from the apparatus and the enzyme solution were homogenized, subjected to Millipore® 0.45 µm membrane filtration and the membranes were superimposed on Soy Triptych Agar culture medium. Quantitative analysis and presumptive identification of microorganisms was carried out using biochemical-physiological methods. Results: The analysis of the enzymatic solution identified microbial load after the first and third use of 152 CFU / ml and 315 CFU / ml respectively. In the device channels immersed in the third use of the enzymatic detergent, microbial contamination increased compared to that after clinical use. Pseudomonas spp. it was recovered in all channels after immersion in the enzyme solution, even in those in which it had not been identified before immersion. Conclusion: This study reinforces the risk of reusing the enzymatic detergent, since there is the possibility of an increase in the microbial load and contamination of devices with microorganisms that had not previously been recovered.