Health care-associated transmission of hepatitis B and C viruses in endoscopy units.

The risk for potential transmission of infectious agents during gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is concerning for patients and physicians. However, the instance of infection transmission remains rare after GI endoscopy procedures, with an estimated frequency of 1 in 1.8 million procedures. Endoscopy-related infection may occur when microorganisms are spread or transmitted from patient to patient by contaminated endoscopic or accessory equipments; from the GI tract through the bloodstream during endoscopy to susceptible organs or prostheses, or spread to adjacent tissues that are breached as a result of the endoscopy procedure; or from patients to endoscopy personnel and perhaps from endoscopy personnel to patients. Proper cleaning, disinfection, and reprocessing of endoscopies and accessories, and appropriate administration of intravenous drugs help to minimize the risk for infection transmission.