Researchers cultured 18 duodenoscopes 531 times for the study. Hang time — time from reprocessing to sampling — ranged from less than a day to nearly 40 days, including 34 with a hang time of longer than a week. Just 12 cultures showed bacterial contamination in a scope’s elevator mechanism or working channel.
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“We did not find a significant association between hang time and risk of duodenoscope contamination,” the researchers wrote. “Future guidelines should consider a recommendation of no limit for hang time.”
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