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Major Finding: A disposable sheath took significantly less time to use than a germicidal solution (89 seconds vs. 14 minutes), and was as effective in decontaminating flexible endoscopes.
Data Source: A randomized, controlled trial including 100 fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopes.
Disclosures: The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.
ORLANDO — Sterile, disposable sheaths for flexible endoscopes are as effective as germicidal solutions in preventing cross-contamination, and they take less time to use, according to the results of a randomized, controlled trial that included 100 fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopes.
Cross-contamination from flexible endoscopes remains a problem, highlighted by a recent outbreak in the Veterans Administration health system last year, said Dr. Alphi P. Elackattu, a resident in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at Boston University. In that outbreak, about 10,000 patients were exposed to cross-contamination due to mechanical failure or human error, he explained at the meeting.
Dr. Elackattu and his colleagues hypothesized that using individually packaged sterile sheaths for flexible endoscopes would cut down on cross-contamination.
In their study, they collected baseline cultures from several sites on each of 100 fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopes (FNPLs). After use, the FNPLs were randomized to either the sheath protocol or the standard disinfection protocol of immersion in germicidal solution.
The product used in the study was the Slide-On EndoSheath from Medtronic Inc., but Medtronic was not involved in the study.
The researchers noted that the average time spent on the process of disinfection was significantly shorter when using the sheath than it was when using the germicidal solution (89 seconds vs. 14 minutes).
After a single use and disinfection protocol, there were no significant differences in the presence of organisms on the FNPLs in the sheath group, compared with the germicidal solution group.
Subjective observations by staff members suggested that germicidal immersion might actually increase the risk of cross-contamination involving FNPLs because it is more complicated to perform than using a disposable sheath, Dr. Elackattu noted.
In addition, patients might feel more secure and comfortable when they see that a disposable sheath is being used on the nasopharyngolaryngoscope, he said.
More research is needed to assess the value of using a disposable sheath and of combining the use of a sheath with the use of germicidal solution, Dr. Elackattu said at the meeting.
The meeting was jointly sponsored by the Triological Society and the American College of Surgeons.
Major Finding: A disposable sheath took significantly less time to use than a germicidal solution (89 seconds vs. 14 minutes), and was as effective in decontaminating flexible endoscopes.
Data Source: A randomized, controlled trial including 100 fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopes.
Disclosures: The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.
ORLANDO — Sterile, disposable sheaths for flexible endoscopes are as effective as germicidal solutions in preventing cross-contamination, and they take less time to use, according to the results of a randomized, controlled trial that included 100 fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopes.
Cross-contamination from flexible endoscopes remains a problem, highlighted by a recent outbreak in the Veterans Administration health system last year, said Dr. Alphi P. Elackattu, a resident in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at Boston University. In that outbreak, about 10,000 patients were exposed to cross-contamination due to mechanical failure or human error, he explained at the meeting.
Dr. Elackattu and his colleagues hypothesized that using individually packaged sterile sheaths for flexible endoscopes would cut down on cross-contamination.
In their study, they collected baseline cultures from several sites on each of 100 fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopes (FNPLs). After use, the FNPLs were randomized to either the sheath protocol or the standard disinfection protocol of immersion in germicidal solution.
The product used in the study was the Slide-On EndoSheath from Medtronic Inc., but Medtronic was not involved in the study.
The researchers noted that the average time spent on the process of disinfection was significantly shorter when using the sheath than it was when using the germicidal solution (89 seconds vs. 14 minutes).
After a single use and disinfection protocol, there were no significant differences in the presence of organisms on the FNPLs in the sheath group, compared with the germicidal solution group.
Subjective observations by staff members suggested that germicidal immersion might actually increase the risk of cross-contamination involving FNPLs because it is more complicated to perform than using a disposable sheath, Dr. Elackattu noted.
In addition, patients might feel more secure and comfortable when they see that a disposable sheath is being used on the nasopharyngolaryngoscope, he said.
More research is needed to assess the value of using a disposable sheath and of combining the use of a sheath with the use of germicidal solution, Dr. Elackattu said at the meeting.
The meeting was jointly sponsored by the Triological Society and the American College of Surgeons.
Major Finding: A disposable sheath took significantly less time to use than a germicidal solution (89 seconds vs. 14 minutes), and was as effective in decontaminating flexible endoscopes.
Data Source: A randomized, controlled trial including 100 fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopes.
Disclosures: The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.
ORLANDO — Sterile, disposable sheaths for flexible endoscopes are as effective as germicidal solutions in preventing cross-contamination, and they take less time to use, according to the results of a randomized, controlled trial that included 100 fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopes.
Cross-contamination from flexible endoscopes remains a problem, highlighted by a recent outbreak in the Veterans Administration health system last year, said Dr. Alphi P. Elackattu, a resident in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at Boston University. In that outbreak, about 10,000 patients were exposed to cross-contamination due to mechanical failure or human error, he explained at the meeting.
Dr. Elackattu and his colleagues hypothesized that using individually packaged sterile sheaths for flexible endoscopes would cut down on cross-contamination.
In their study, they collected baseline cultures from several sites on each of 100 fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopes (FNPLs). After use, the FNPLs were randomized to either the sheath protocol or the standard disinfection protocol of immersion in germicidal solution.
The product used in the study was the Slide-On EndoSheath from Medtronic Inc., but Medtronic was not involved in the study.
The researchers noted that the average time spent on the process of disinfection was significantly shorter when using the sheath than it was when using the germicidal solution (89 seconds vs. 14 minutes).
After a single use and disinfection protocol, there were no significant differences in the presence of organisms on the FNPLs in the sheath group, compared with the germicidal solution group.
Subjective observations by staff members suggested that germicidal immersion might actually increase the risk of cross-contamination involving FNPLs because it is more complicated to perform than using a disposable sheath, Dr. Elackattu noted.
In addition, patients might feel more secure and comfortable when they see that a disposable sheath is being used on the nasopharyngolaryngoscope, he said.
More research is needed to assess the value of using a disposable sheath and of combining the use of a sheath with the use of germicidal solution, Dr. Elackattu said at the meeting.
The meeting was jointly sponsored by the Triological Society and the American College of Surgeons.