Sterile water in endoscopy: habit, opinion, or evidence?

[Teresa Lewis]

Dear learned colleagues

I would like to know what other healthcare facilities are doing in regards to using sterile water, tap water or distilled water in irrigation bottles during endoscopy?

I was approached today by one of our gastroenterologists saying he would like to change our practice to using tap water in our endoscopy unit.
He presented me with a paper named “Sterile water in endoscopy: habit, opinion, or evidence” published in the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Journal http://www.giejournal.org/article/S0016-5107(13)00191-0/abstract

Would we consider the evidence provided in this paper sufficient to change our practice, or should this be the start of the important discussion that is needed?
What is the added risk to the patient and what about the added biofilm to the scopes if any?
I am very interested in hearing what everyone else does and what the experts in the field think.

Thank you in advance.

Kind Regards

Teresa Lewis
Infection Control and Prevention CNC
Newcastle Endoscopy Centre

“Infection Prevention is everybodys business, and it only takes 5 Moments”

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