ASP EVOTECH Endoscope Cleaner and Reprocessor technology superior to manual cleaning: Study

ADVANCED STERILIZATION PRODUCTSJul 22 2010

Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP) announced today newly published data showing the ASP EVOTECH® Endoscope Cleaner and Reprocessor (ECR) provides an automated approach superior to the manual cleaning required when using traditional AERs. Published in the July issue of Biomed Central, the combination clinical-use and simulated-use study was led by Michelle Alfa, Ph.D., FCCM, Medical Director, Microbiology Discipline Diagnostic Services of Manitoba (DSM) St. Boniface General Hospital Site.

"There have been a number of highly publicized endoscope cleaning incidents in both the USA and Canada that underscore the importance of improving the cleaning process for flexible endoscopes," said Dr. Alfa, study principal investigator and lead author. "While the EVOTECH® ECR technology is new, our recent in-use study evaluating the cleaning efficacy of the highly automated EVOTECH® ECR shows great promise as this system provided cleaning that was superior to manual cleaning for flexible endoscopes. Improved cleaning using a validated automated system is an important step in ensuring reliable reprocessing of flexible endoscopes and thereby reducing risk for patients."

As healthcare facilities transition to alternative systems for high-level disinfection, this data further supports that the EVOTECH® ECR eliminates manual cleaning while providing high-level disinfection.

In the United States each year, approximately 34 million gastrointestinal procedures alone are performed using flexible endoscopes. Numerous studies of manual reprocessing indicate widespread difficulty in achieving endoscope manufacturers' recommended standards for manual cleaning and great variability in the manual cleaning performed. A recent study indicates that as much as 60 percent of scopes may not be processed correctly.

Despite the overall low rates of infection associated with flexible gastrointestinal procedures, flexible endoscopes are still the most common cause of healthcare-device-associated outbreaks.

The EVOTECH® ECR is the first commercially available endoscope reprocessor to eliminate manual cleaning when a cycle containing a wash stage is selected. This independent data not only confirms previous data that showed the EVOTECH® ECR cleaning cycle provides an effective automated approach comparable to that of manual washing and brushing, but also shows the EVOTECH® ECR cleaning cycle is superior to optimal manual cleaning even for the most difficult to clean channels such as the elevator guidewire channel.

"The study conducted by an independent researcher confirming the efficacy of the EVOTECH® ECR automated technology both validates and reaffirms ASP's commitment to designing innovative infection prevention solutions," said Marc Bellotti, Worldwide Vice President of Research and Development for ASP. "ASP will continue to partner with industry associations and key opinion leaders to ensure all healthcare facilities understand the benefits offered by this new and more automated technology."