Table 1.

Comparison of the cleaning and disinfection procedures recommended by the European Society for Gastrointetsinal Endoscopy (ESGE) [2] and those used in the present trial.

	ESGE guidelines	Policy in the present trial
1. Manual cleaning	• Flushing air/water channel with water	• Flushing air/water channel with water
	• Immersion in water and detergent, external cleaning and brushing/rinsing of instrument channels	• Immersion in water and detergent, external cleaning and brushing/rinsing of instrument channels
	• Flushing air/water channel with detergent (facultative)	• Flushing air/water channel with detergent*
2. Automatic disinfection	• Washing, disinfection and drying according to the manufacturer specification	• Washing, disinfection and drying according to the manufacturer specification
3. Before storage	-	• Flushing biopsy channel with 70% alcohol*

*Comprehensive procedures, incorporated in local policy after finding of Enterobacter cloacae in one endoscope.