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Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology Publication Info

Article DOI: 10.1086/501544
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/501544
Disinfection of Endoscopes: Review of New Chemical Sterilants Used for High‐Level Disinfection • 
William A. Rutala , PhD, MPH and David J. Weber , MD, MPH
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology , Vol. 20, No. 1 (January 1999), pp. 69-76
Article DOI: 10.1086/501544
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/501544
Disinfection and Sterilization

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

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Abstract(back to top)

Chemical sterilants are used to high‐level disinfect heatsensitive 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.

Bibliographic Information(back to top)

  • Disinfection of Endoscopes: Review of New Chemical Sterilants Used for High‐Level Disinfection
  • William A. Rutala , PhD, MPH and David J. Weber , MD, MPH
  • Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
  • Vol. 20, No. 1 (January 1999) (pp. 69-76)

Author Information(back to top)

William A. Rutala , PhD, MPH; David J. Weber , MD, MPH

Notes and References(back to top)

This item contains 1 note(s).

Notes

From the 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. The authors wish to express their appreciation to Ms. Sallie Walker and Mr. Walter W. Bond for reviewing the manuscript. This work was supported, in part, by a grant from Reckitt & Colman, Montvale, New Jersey. Address reprint requests to William A. Rutala, PhD, MPH, 547 Burnett‐Womack Bldg, CB #7030, Division of Infectious Diseases, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599‐7030. 98‐SX‐173. Rutala WA, Weber DJ. Disinfection of endoscopes: review of new chemical sterilants used for high‐level disinfection. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1999;20:69‐76.

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© 1999 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved.