Navigating the Challenges of Endoscope Reprocessing: Biofilm Formation and Removal

A growing body of evidence shows that patient ready endoscopes can remain contaminated despite high-level disinfection or sterilization. Investigators have described the phenomenon of Cyclic Biofilm Build-Up (CBB), how it occurs and why it can defeat even the most rigorous manual reprocessing practice. The first phase of this research focused on CBB in a straight lumen. In phase two, the investigators studied CBB in an assembled endscope to gain a better understanding of how endoscope structure and lumen geometry can hinder biofilm removal. The speaker will review how and why CBB forms; why colonization and transmission are likely higher than previously understood; how the design, structure and geometry of endoscopes can complicate biofilm removal; and conclude with two studies assessing the efficacy of different cleaning methods against CBB.

Daniel received his doctorate in Developmental Cellular and Molecular Biology from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, researching aberrant genetic contributions and their effect on stem cell and early embryonic initiation and development. He returned to Southern California to continue his research at The Scripps Research Institute, focusing on fetal brain formation and cephalic cellular differentiation. After leaving academic research, Daniel has held roles as a lab director in clinical settings, science director and director of scientific affairs for non-profit organizations and bio-tech start-ups, and director of medical affairs in the pharmaceutical industry, until arriving at Nanosonics.