Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/11054/78
Title: Do you clean or contaminate your bronchoscope?
Authors: Harvey, John
Yates, Mark
Issue Date: 1996
Publisher: Baillière Tindall, in association with the British Thoracic Society.
Place of publication: London
Publication Title: Respiratory Medicine
Volume: 90
Issue: 2
Start Page: 63
End Page: 67
Abstract: Since the introduction of flexible endoscopes 30 yr ago, the fibre-optic bronchoscope has become an essential tool of the respiratory physician. Macroscopic examination, biopsy and brushing techniques are common to all forms of endoscopy. However, detailed microbiological examination of lavage fluid is unique to bronchoscopy. Perhaps this is a legacy that we have inherited from our predecessors, who occasionally analysed gastric lavage fluid in their search for tuberculous infection. During the early years of fibre-optic bronchoscopy, cross-infection was not considered to be a major problem (1). However, the increasing use of microbiological examination of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid has led to the recognition of contamination as a potential source of both cross-infection and diagnostic confusion (2).
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/11054/78
ISSN: 0954-6111
Internal ID Number: 00064
Health Subject: EDITORIAL
BRONCHOSCOPES
DISEASE RESERVOIRS
DISINFECTION METHODS
EQUIPMENT CONTAMINATION - PREVENTION & CONTROL
HUMANS
Type: Journal Article
Article
Appears in Collections:Research Output

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