Gastroenterology Today Summer 2019

Dr. Daniel Vinteler
CEO and Founder of Plasmabiotics, invented the PlasmaTYPHOON
and PlasmaBAG; a device designed to minimize the risk of bacterial
contamination in endoscopy. Daniel Vinteler has been in close contact
with patients from the very beginning. This has provided him with a
comprehensive understanding of the hygiene risks in endoscopy and
this revolutionary new way to reduce them.
‘Drying is a possible pitfall for hygiene
in endoscopy’
The diagnostic and therapeutic utility of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) has been well demonstrated
for a variety of disorders, such as the management and treatment of biliopancreatic diseases. Due to their complex design,
duodenoscopes have been long recognized to require thorough processes and precise execution to properly disinfect.
As the importance of ERCP procedures and their impact on patients’ lives remains unwavering. We speak to Dr. Daniel Vinteler
(PlasmaBiotics) and Ulrike Beilenhoff (ESGENA) about their ideas concerning the challenges and solutions for the future of
endoscopy and PlasmaBiotics latest technology, the PlasmaTYPHOON.
How important is it to raise awareness
about the risk of infection, during endoscopy
procedures in a cross functional
way?
Ulrike Beilenhoff: Hygiene is an important
concern as it relates to patient’s safety.
Hospitals have the task to ensure a safe
environment in order to prevent any adverse
events and complications. The patient is in a
vulnerable situation, they may have existing
health problems, they are undergoing an
endoscopy procedure, and when you expose
the patient to additional germs, you create
an additional risk. Since the early 2000s
we are experiencing problems with multidrug
resistant bacteria. If a patient is ill
and subsequently exposed to this bacteria,
hospitals have limited options to treat the
patient. The aim is to avoid any additional risk
and therefore hygiene is really a core focus in
this commitment. Thus, establishing hygiene
as a commitment to the patient’s safety.
What are the hygiene issues inherent to
endoscope handling and storage?
Daniel Vinteler: Every step of endoscope
reprocessing is crucial to ensure a hygienic
procedure: the pre-cleaning, cleaningdisinfection,
drying and storage. If one of
these steps is not performed correctly,
hygiene is not guaranteed. In practice, the
drying of the endoscope is often underestimated
and therefore a possible pitfall for
hygiene and reprocessing steps. If the scope
is not dried properly, all the steps before are
undercut.
Why is it so crucial to dry an endoscope
after the device has been disinfected?
Ulrike Beilenhoff: Publications showed that
several outbreaks have been caused by
insuffi cient dyring. If you do not clean the
endoscope properly then you leave residual
debris. If you do not dry the endoscope
it creates a perfect environment to breed
germs. Nurses are aware of both of these
steps. A perfectly dried endoscope stops
bacterial proliferation.
What are the key challenges and
constraints in endoscope drying and
storage? Why are these steps sometimes
not perfectly carried out?
Ulrike Beilenhoff: Time constraints in hospitals
present challenges to effective drying and
storage. Surveys showed that nurses and
reprocessing staff work under time pressure.
Even though they are aware of the importance
of thorough cleaning and drying, it can be
challenging. Suffi cient time is the prerequisite
for correct reprocessing of endoscopes and
this also includes suffi cient time for drying
before storage.
It is the responsibility of hospitals as service
providers to ensure a proper training for all
staff involved in endoscope reprocessing.