DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i04.053

Pages: 1408-1412

Endoscopes have been used widely for the diagnosis and therapy of many surgical disorders. Endoscopes are classified as semicritical item and thus though sterilisation is ideal, high-level disinfection is sufficient enough and is the current reprocessing standard for flexible endoscope after each patient use. Glutaraldehyde (2%) has been used widely as a high level disinfectant for over 30 years now because of its favourable materials compatibility and cheaper cost but its immersion time is longer. The later arrival 0.55% Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) is promising because of its excellent bactericidal activity, wide range of material compatibility and lesser immersion time but is not widely used mainly because of its cost factor. Another advantage of using OPA is that it is effective against Glutaraldehyde resistant mycobacteria. The study is a prospective randomised controlled trial comparing cost effectiveness, safety and handling issues of 2% Glutaraldehyde and 0.55% Ortho-phthalaldehyde for disinfecting endoscope in our endoscopy unit. It was observed that Ortho-phthalaldehyde was found to be more cost effective than the former (profit of Rs. 40000 as compared to Rs.22950 during a study period of 20 days for each). It is very doctor friendly as more number of patients could undergo endoscopy in a day (maximum 5 when compared to only 3 maximum with the former), needed only 10 min for disinfection (compared to 20 min), does not need any activation before use hence reducing waiting time between two patients especially in a busy unit with only one endoscope. The microbiological safety is also better with the latter agent (high level disinfection rate reaching almost 100%) obviating the need for replacing the long used Glutaraldehyde.