Unexpected endoscope surface phenomena in soaking mode of automated endoscope reprocessor: fluorescent tracer redeposition and persistent surface-tension bubbles
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Mei LI1, Chen-Ying ZHOU1, Ting TENG1, Qing GU2. Unexpected endoscope surface phenomena in soaking mode of automated endoscope reprocessor: fluorescent tracer redeposition and persistent surface-tension bubbles[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University Science B, 1998, -1(-1): .
@article{title="Unexpected endoscope surface phenomena in soaking mode of automated endoscope reprocessor: fluorescent tracer redeposition and persistent surface-tension bubbles",
author="Mei LI1, Chen-Ying ZHOU1, Ting TENG1, Qing GU2",
journal="Journal of Zhejiang University Science B",
volume="-1",
number="-1",
pages="",
year="1998",
publisher="Zhejiang University Press & Springer",
doi="10.1631/jzus.B2600423"
}
%0 Journal Article
%T Unexpected endoscope surface phenomena in soaking mode of automated endoscope reprocessor: fluorescent tracer redeposition and persistent surface-tension bubbles
%A Mei LI1
%A Chen-Ying ZHOU1
%A Ting TENG1
%A Qing GU2
%J Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B
%V -1
%N -1
%P
%@ 1673-1581
%D 1998
%I Zhejiang University Press & Springer
%DOI 10.1631/jzus.B2600423
TY - JOUR
T1 - Unexpected endoscope surface phenomena in soaking mode of automated endoscope reprocessor: fluorescent tracer redeposition and persistent surface-tension bubbles
A1 - Mei LI1
A1 - Chen-Ying ZHOU1
A1 - Ting TENG1
A1 - Qing GU2
J0 - Journal of Zhejiang University Science B
VL - -1
IS - -1
SP -
EP - 0
%@ 1673-1581
Y1 - 1998
PB - Zhejiang University Press & Springer
ER -
DOI - 10.1631/jzus.B2600423
Abstract: With the widespread use of endoscopy, there has been increasing concern about endoscope-associated pathogen transmission. In this context, the impact of different automated endoscope reprocessor (AER) operating modes on endoscope external surface cleaning remains underexplored. We compared three AER modes (soaking, jetting, and jetting-soaking) and observed two unexpected physical phenomena unique to the soaking mode. First, fluorescent tracer revealed thicker, linear deposition patterns on the external surface, whereas the jetting-containing modes produced a thinner and more even surface distribution. Second, the soaking mode generated numerous persistent surface-tension bubbles that remained attached to the external surface throughout the reprocessing cycle. Despite these differences, all three operating modes passed residual protein testing and yielded negative bacterial cultures, indicating that the soaking mode met current microbiological benchmarks under the tested conditions. To our knowledge, this study is the first to document such visible and reproducible physical phenomena during AER reprocessing. Although these findings do not indicate immediate reprocessing failure, they suggest that external surface fluid dynamics may be an underrecognized factor in AER mode optimization and warrant further investigation under more challenging real-world conditions.
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