Abstract
Four commercially available endoscope washing machines (Pyser System 83, Wolf Fiberscope
Disinfector, Olympus EW20, Keymed Auto-Disinfector) were evaluated. In most cases
the machines were expensive, immobile and noisy, and could only wash one endoscope
per cycle. Daily use involved repetitive chores and contact with glutaraldehyde. Disinfection
procedures were flawed; no machine auto-disinfected adequately. In conclusion, these
machines are unsatisfactory and represent a potential source of serious infection.
