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Disinfection of Endoscopes: Review of New Chemical Sterilants Used for High-Level Disinfection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

William A. Rutala and
David J. Weber
William A. Rutala*
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Disease, University of North Carolina School of Medicine and the Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
David J. Weber
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Disease, University of North Carolina School of Medicine and the Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
*
547 Burnett-Womack Bldg, CB #7030, Division of Infectious Diseases, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7030
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Abstract

Chemical sterilants are used to high-level disinfect heat-sensitive semicritical items such as endoscopes. Most endoscopes have been reprocessed between each patient use with glutaraldehyde (>2%) or the Steris System 1. Several new chemical sterilants have been developed recently, including 7.5% hydrogen peroxide, 0.08% peracetic acid plus 1.0% hydrogen peroxide, and 0.55% orthophthalaldehyde. In order to aid the infection control professional in choosing the appropriate disinfection methodology, this article reviews the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of high-level disinfectants intended for reprocessing endoscopes.

Information

Type
Disinfection and Sterilization
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , January 1999, pp. 69 - 76
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1999

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