Table 5.

Culture Results From Duodenoscopes Used as Negative Controls

Cultures Collected	Clinically Used Duodenoscopes Sterilized with EtO Followed by AER Cycle (n=59), No. (%) a	Clinically Used Duodenoscopes Sterilized With EtO Only (n=25), No. (%) b
HC organisms c	1 (1.7)	0 (0)
>100 CFU LMC organisms	2 (3.4)	1 (4.0)
11–100 CFU of LMC organisms	4 (6.8)	4 (16.0)
1–10 CFU of LMC organisms	40 (67.8)	16 (64.0)
0 CFU no contamination	12 (20.3)	4 (16.0)

Note. EtO, ethylene oxide; AER, automated endoscope reprocessor; HC, high concern; LMC, low-to-moderate concern.

^a These duodenoscopes had been used in the study on patients and had been fully reprocessed with EtO sterilization as the final step. These duodenoscopes were processed through the onsite AER before taking samples for culture. The same process were as used at sites that sent duodenoscopes for EtO sterilization after clinical use and reprocessing. The patient-used duodenoscopes that were sent for EtO sterilization were subsequently processed through an AER then put into storage cabinets before the next clinical use.

^b Duodenoscopes that had been used in the study on patients and had been fully reprocessed with EtO sterilization as the final step. These duodenoscopes were not processed through an AER before taking samples for culture.

^c Pseudomonas luteola was detected.