Skip to main content
PMC home page
Thorax logoLink to Thorax
. 1984 Oct;39(10):785–788. doi: 10.1136/thx.39.10.785

Disinfection of the flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M gordonae.

D Davis, H W Bonekat, D Andrews, J W Shigeoka
PMCID: PMC459919  PMID: 6437002

Abstract

In view of recent reports of contamination of the fibreoptic bronchoscope by tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria, we evaluated the disinfecting properties of aqueous glutaraldehyde (Cidex) and an iodophor (Prepodyne) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M gordonae. We found that a 15 minute disinfection procedure with either agent, coupled with initial vigorous mechanical cleaning of the bronchoscope and its accessories, is a quick and reliable method for preventing the contamination of the bronchoscope with mycobacteria.

Full text

PDF
785

Images in this article

786Image
on p.786

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Beyt B. E., Jr, King D. K., Glew R. H. Fatal pneumonitis and septicemia after fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Chest. 1977 Jul;72(1):105–107. doi: 10.1378/chest.72.1.105. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Collins F. M., Montalbine V. Mycobactericidal activity of glutaraldehyde solutions. J Clin Microbiol. 1976 Nov;4(5):408–412. doi: 10.1128/jcm.4.5.408-412.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Credle W. F., Jr, Smiddy J. F., Elliott R. C. Complications of fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1974 Jan;109(1):67–72. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1974.109.1.67. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. DUBOS R. J., FENNER F., PIERCE C. H. Properties of a culture of BCG grown in liquid media containing tween 80 and filtrate of heated serum. Am Rev Tuberc. 1950 Jan;61(1):66-76, illust. doi: 10.1164/art.1950.61.1.66. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Dawson D. J., Armstrong J. G., Blacklock Z. M. Mycobacterial cross-contamination of bronchoscopy specimens. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1982 Dec;126(6):1095–1097. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1982.126.6.1095. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. FROBISHER M., Jr, SOMMERMEYER L. A study of the effect of alcohols on tubercle bacilli and other bacteria in sputum. Am Rev Tuberc. 1953 Sep;68(3):419–424. doi: 10.1164/art.1953.68.3.419. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Gangadharam P. R., Lockhart J. A., Awe R. J., Jenkins D. E. Letter: Mycobacterial contamination through tap water. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1976 Jun;113(6):894–894. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1976.113.6.894. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Garcia de Cabo A., Martinez Larriba P. L., Checa Pinilla J., Guerra Sanz F. A new method of disinfection of the flexible fibrebronchoscope. Thorax. 1978 Apr;33(2):270–272. doi: 10.1136/thx.33.2.270. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Goslee S., Wolinsky E. Water as a source of potentially pathogenic mycobacteria. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1976 Mar;113(3):287–292. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1976.113.3.287. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. HIRSCH J. G. The resistance of tubercle bacilli to the bactericidal action of benzalkonium chloride (zephiran). Am Rev Tuberc. 1954 Aug;70(2):312–319. doi: 10.1164/art.1954.70.2.312. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Laskowski L. F., Marr J. J., Spernoga J. F., Frank N. J., Barner H. B., Kaiser G., Tyras D. H. Fastidious mycobacteria grown from porcine prosthetic-heart-valve cultures. N Engl J Med. 1977 Jul 14;297(2):101–102. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197707142970209. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Leers W. D. Disinfecting endoscopes: how not to transmit Mycobacterium tuberculosis by bronchoscopy. Can Med Assoc J. 1980 Aug 23;123(4):275-80, 283. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Nelson K. E., Larson P. A., Schraufnagel D. E., Jackson J. Transmission of tuberculosis by flexible fiberbronchoscopes. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1983 Jan;127(1):97–100. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1983.127.1.97. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Pappas S. A., Schaaff D. M., DiCostanzo M. B., King F. W., Jr, Sharp J. T. Contamination of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopes. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1983 Mar;127(3):391–392. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1983.127.3.391a. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Pereira W., Jr, Kovnat D. M., Snider G. L. A prospective cooperative study of complications following flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Chest. 1978 Jun;73(6):813–816. doi: 10.1378/chest.73.6.813. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Pereira W., Kovnat D. M., Khan M. A., Iacovino J. R., Spivack M. L., Snider G. L. Fever and pneumonia after flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1975 Jul;112(1):59–64. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1975.112.1.59. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Scheidt A. Persistent contamination of the flexible fiberbronchoscope following disinfection in aqueous gluteraldehyde. Chest. 1980 Aug;78(2):352–353. doi: 10.1378/chest.78.2.352a. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Steere A. C., Corrales J., von Graevenitz A. A cluster of Mycobacterium gordonae isolates from bronchoscopy specimens. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1979 Jul;120(1):214–216. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1979.120.1.214. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Suratt P. M., Gwaltney J. M., Sande M. A. A rapid method of disinfecting the bronchofiberscope. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1976 Dec;114(6):1198–1199. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1976.114.6.1198. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Taylor J. W., Smith V. M., Zacher J. L. For effective thermometer disinfection. Nurs Outlook. 1966 Feb;14(2):56–58. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Timms R. M., Harrell J. H. Bacteremia related to fiberoptic bronchoscopy. A case report. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1975 Apr;111(4):555–557. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1975.111.4.555. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. WAYNE L. G., KRASNOW I., KIDD G. Finding the "hidden positive" in tuberculosis eradication programs. The role of the sensitive trisodium phosphate-benzalkonium (zephiran) culture technique. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1962 Oct;86:537–541. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1962.86.4.537. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. WRIGHT E. S., MUNDY R. A. Studies on disinfection of clinical thermometers. II. Oral thermometers from a tuberculosis sanatorium. Appl Microbiol. 1961 Nov;9:508–510. doi: 10.1128/am.9.6.508-510.1961. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Weinstein H. J., Bone R. C., Ruth W. E. Contamination of a fiberoptic bronchoscope with Proteus species. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1977 Sep;116(3):541–543. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1977.116.3.541. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Thorax are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES