The effectiveness of electrolyzed oxidizing water in disinfections of endoscopes

Objective To observe the effectiveness of electrolyzed oxidizing water(EOW) in disinfections of endoscopes and compared with that of 2% glutaraldehyde. Methods (1) Disinfections of bacteri-a:Specimens were obtained immediately from endoscopes after being used, disinfected and washed out for bacterial culture. Endoscopes were immersed in either EOW or 2% glutaraldehyde for 1 , 3 and 5 minutes. Each time group consisted of 30 cases. (2 ) Effectiveness on disinfections of H. Pylori: endoscopes either from patients with H. Pylori infection or artificially contaminated with H. Pylori were washed out and exposed for 1 , 3 and 5 minutes in each of the disinfectants. PCR was used to detect DNA of H. Pylor. (3) Effectiveness of disinfections of HBV : Endoscopes were contaminated with HBV-positive serum, and the exposure time to both disinfectants were 1,3,5 and 10 minutes respectively. Thirty samples were studied in each time groups. Results ( 1 ) After manual cleaning and disinfections for 1, 3 and 5min in EOW, no vegetative bacteria were found. In 2% glutaraldehyde processing group, 5/30, 4/30 and 1/30 specimens remained bacteria positive, respectively. (2)There was no positive specimens found after 3 and 5 minutes' exposure in EOW in the group of H. Pylori, but 2/30 positive specimens were found in the 1 minute group. While 3/30, 4/30 and 4/30 positive specimens were found after exposure in 2% glutaraldehyde. (3) In the group of HBV, there is no positive case found after exposure in EOW, while in 2% glutaraldehyde groups, there were 2,5 , 4 and 5 cases remained positive in 1 ,3,5 and 10 minutes group respectively. Conclusion EOW is superior to 2% glutaraldehyde in disinfections of Hp or HVB with high-speed and thoroughness, and worthy to be recommended in disinfections of endoscopes.