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Poster 2047 Association Between Colonoscopy Preparation Type and Simethicone Use in a Large Academic Center
Author Insight from Diana Plata, MD, Rush University Medical Center
What’s new and important here?
Our retrospective data showed a statistically significant association between choice of bowel preparation and the need for simethicone use during colonoscopy. This is important given the ongoing concern regarding simethicone and residual contamination of endoscopes. A recent study in The American Journal of Infection Control (Ofstead CL et al.) found that residual fluid containing simethicone may accumulate in endoscopes despite disinfection and reprocessing, a phenomenon associated with accumulation of biofilm and bacterial growth that could lead to contaminated instruments or possibly infectious complications. Our study revealed that simethicone was used in 20.8% of the procedures in our study. Therefore, given its possible clinical implications, choosing a different preparation may lower the use of simethicone during colonoscopy, and potentially decrease biofilm formation and residual contamination of the endoscope.
Author Contact
Diana Plata, MD, Rush University Medical Center
diana_m_plata@rush.edu
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