Gastroenterology Today Summer 2019

COMPANY NEWS
THE INFECTION RISK IS REAL
In 2010, Cantel (UK) Ltd became the first company to offer
sterile single-use endoscope valves and in 2018 became the first
supplier in the UK to provide sterile single-use valves compatible
with GI endoscopes from Olympus, Pentax and Fujifilm.
Reducing the risk of infections for endoscopy patients is critically
important. More Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) and outbreaks
have been linked to contaminated endoscopes than to any other
medical device. 1 For patients who contract HAIs the consequences
can be significant. In the UK, HAIs are estimated to cost the NHS
approximately £1 billion a year. 2
The risk of infection from improperly cleaned and disinfected reusable
endoscope valves is extremely high due to their complex design. A
laboratory study of “patient-ready” valves found 56% were contaminated
with bacteria, yeast, moulds and bacterial spores. 3 Meticulous brushing
is required during reprocessing and that still may not be sufficient to
ensure a safe, patient-ready endoscope. DEFENDO Sterile Singleuse
Valves solve the issue of reusable valve reprocessing by offering a
single-use option which ensures sterile valves for every procedure.
DEFENDO Valves are high-performance, high-quality products that
support procedural control and efficiency. Cantel’s verification testing
includes multiple tests for force and suction to help create valves that
don’t exhibit some of the common issues with reusable and other
single-use valves: clogging, sticking and loss of insufflation. When you
experience these issues during a procedure, the result can be a longer,
more difficult procedure.
With every guideline update, there is clear direction that singleuse
accessories are highly recommended. The British Society of
Gastroenterology guidance states “’Single-use’ accessories should
always be used” 4 and the recently updated ESGENA guidelines state
that “endoscope valves can also show contamination after reprocessing
and may be the source of infections if cleaning, drying, storage, and
hand hygiene are inadequate. There is an increasing trend for using
detachable endoscope components as single-use products to enable
full traceability and to prevent cross-infection caused by inadequately
reprocessed detachable components such as valves and distal caps”. 5
DEFENDO Valves provide the most advanced protection for your
patients by helping to create consistent practices and reducing the risk
of potential errors. Single-use valves are supplied by Cantel (UK) Ltd
in a number of convenient kits which include: Air/ Water, Suction and
Biopsy Valves, as well as a Single Use Auxiliary Water Jet Connector.
Contact Cantel on 01702 291878 to arrange a free demonstration of
DEFENDO Sterile Single-Use Valves.
www.cantelmedical.co.uk
References
1. Rutala, W.A., Weber, D. J., and the Healthcare Infection Control
Practices Advisory Committee (2008). Guideline for Disinfection
and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (Last update: February 15,
2017). Retrieved from CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/ infectioncontrol/
pdf/guidelines/disinfection-guidelines.pdf
2. National costing statement: Infection prevention and control (2012,
March)
3. Pearce, P.J. (2011, August). A Report on the Widespread
Inadequate Reprocessing of Endoscope Air/Water and Suction
Valves by Healthcare Facilities. Retrieved from: http://www.
medivators.com/sites/default/files/minntech/documents/
Improper%20Valve%20Reprocessing%20Study_Sept%20
2017_50098-1504%20Rev%20A.pdf
4. BSG. “Guidance for Decontamination of Equipment for
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.” (2016, November)
5. Reprocessing of flexible endoscopes and endoscopic accessories
used in gastrointestinal endoscopy: Position Statement of the
European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) and
European Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates
(ESGENA) – Update 2018
GASTROENTEROLOGY TODAY - SUMMER 2019
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