Is the Environment of the Endoscopy Unit a Reservoir of Pathogens?

• Main Authors: Eun Sung Choi, Jae Hyuk Choi, Jung Min Lee, Sang Min Lee, Yoo Jin Lee, Yu Jin Kang, Eun Soo Kim, Kwang Bum Cho, Kyung Sik Park, Byoung Kuk Jang, Jae Seok Hwang, Woo Jin Chung, Nam Hee Ryoo, Seong Woo Jeon, Min Kyu Jung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Association for the Study of Intestinal Diseases 2014-10-01
• Series: Intestinal Research
• Subjects: Endoscopy room; Environment; Pathogens
• Online Access: http://www.irjournal.org/upload/pdf/ir-12-306.pdf

Background/AimsGiven the characteristic procedures involved in the endoscopy unit, the spread of pathogens is much more frequent in this unit than in other environments. However, there is a lack of data elucidating the existence of pathogens in the endoscopy unit. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of possible pathogens in the endoscopy unit.MethodsWe performed environmental culture using samples from the endoscopy rooms of 2 tertiary hospitals. We used sterile cotton-tipped swabs moistened with sterile saline to swab the surfaces of 197 samples. Then, we cultured the swab in blood agar plate. Samples from the colonoscopy room were placed in thioglycollate broth to detect the presence of anaerobes. After 2 weeks of culture period, we counted the colony numbers.ResultsThe most commonly contaminated spots were the doctor's keyboard, nurse's cart, and nurse's mouse. The common organisms found were non-pathogenic bacterial microorganisms Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, and Streptococcus spp.. No definite anaerobe organism was detected in the colonoscopy room.ConclusionsAlthough the organisms detected in the endoscopy unit were mainly non-pathogenic organisms, they might cause opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. Therefore, the environment of the endoscopy room should be managed appropriately; moreover, individual hand hygiene is important for preventing possible hospital-acquired infections.