| Theme |
Management for the risk of colonoscopy |
| Title |
Infection control in colonoscopy |
| Author |
Taiji Akamatsu |
Department of Endoscopy, Shinshu University Hospital |
| Author |
Yukie Okimura |
Department of Clinical Laboratories, Shinshu University Hospital |
| Author |
Izumi Yano |
Nursing Division, Shinshu University Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
Infection control is a very important subject related to endoscopy. Endoscopes and endoscopic equipment should be disinfected according to guidelines, namely reprocessing of endoscopes requiring high-level disinfection and most endoscopic equipment must be sterilized using an autoclave or ethylene oxide. Standard precautions are essential. Infection control for colonoscopy is the same as that for esophagogastroduodenoscopy, in principle. However, there are some additional problems in colonoscopy, as follows : (1) contaminations of the endoscopic room by feces, (2) Performance colonoscopy on patients with infectious colitis, (3) Clostridium difficile, which forms bacterial spores which are resistant to high-level disinfectants except peracetic acid, are detected not only in patients with pseudomenbranous colitis but also in seemingly healthy carriers. From these points of view, infection control in colonoscopy is thought to require more strict management than that in esophagogastroduodenoscopy. |