Endoscope reprocessing—resource consumption and emissions

Abstract

Effective reprocessing of reusable GI endoscopes is crucial to minimising patient risks associated with contamination. However, this process poses a considerable environmental challenge. This study aimed to examine the emissions associated with endoscope disinfection, a largely unexplored area. On average, a reprocessing cycle required 57 L water, 65 L air, 1080 watts of electricity and produced 3.30 kgCO2e. These findings highlight the pressing need for sustainable solutions to reduce the environmental impact of endoscope reprocessing while ensuring patient safety remains uncompromised. GI endoscopy represents a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and hazardous waste in healthcare.1–3 Several gastroenterology associations have issued guidelines and standards for proper endoscope reprocessing to ensure patient safety and prevent health risks.4 5 Digestive endoscopes are included in the ‘semicritical’ category of items as they contact mucous membranes, thus, the need for high-level disinfection, which, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), is defined as the ‘complete elimination of all microorganisms in or on an instrument, except for small numbers of bacterial spores’. This is achieved using high-level disinfectants, peracetic acid being the one used by the unit. However, the impact of this essential process remains largely unknown. Recently, Pioche et al 6 highlighted that—in the life cycle assessment (LCA) of gastroscopes—the decontamination stage of reusable gastroscopes was the greatest contributor to GHG emissions accounting for more than 90% of water consumption and 45% of carbon footprint. The goal of this study is to quantify the environmental burden of reusable endoscope reprocessing, …