Does the Endoscope Control Head Need to be Disinfected between Examinations?

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Abstract
An evaluation was made of the incidence of contamination of endoscope control heads during gastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy, and of the efficacy of a simple disinfection technique. Contamination of the control heads occurred in 4 out of 17 examinations. Scrubbing in detergent followed by wiping with swabs impregnated with 70 % isopropyl alcohol and 2 % chlorhexidine achieved adequate disinfection of artifical heavy contamination of the control head. The endoscope control head represents a potential source of crass-infection and should not be neglected in any cleaning procedure.