Routine cleaning and the elimination of Campylobacter pylori from endoscopic biopsy forceps.

The effect of routine cleaning in removing Campylobacter pylori from the biopsy forceps of endoscopes has been examined in a series of 50 patients. Campylobacter pylori was isolated from the biopsies of 15 of the patients, while one of the 50 biopsy forceps washings yielded the organism after routine cleaning. This study suggests that there is a small chance of transmitting C. pylori by endoscopic equipment if cleaning is the only method of decontamination adopted.