Endoscope-associated infections remain a critical concern in clinical practice, with recent outbreaks highlighting persistent challenges in reprocessing. This symposium will explore the evolving landscape of endoscope contamination and cleaning across three focused modules. The first will revisit recent endoscope-related outbreaks, examining colonization and acute infections. The second will delve into the structural complexity of endoscopes, why they are inherently difficult to clean and prone to biofilm formation. The final module will introduce research data on a new automated endoscope cleaner (AEC), presenting its mechanism of action, new soil data, and emerging findings from biofilm model studies. Together, these sessions aim to equip infection prevention professionals with the latest insights and innovations to enhance endoscope safety and reprocessing efficacy.
Learning Objectives:
Summarise recent endoscope-associated outbreaks and identify patterns of colonisation and disease transmission.
Explain the structural and design-related challenges that hinder effective endoscope cleaning, with insights on biofilm formation
Describe the mechanism of action and emerging evidence supporting a new AEC technology, including its efficacy against biofilm and organic soil in endoscope channels.
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