Do Endoscope Brushes Actually Matter? This Study Says Yes.
- Alexander Sundermann
- May 12
- 1 min read
We all know that cleaning flexible endoscopes is a critical step in preventing infections—but do we think enough about the brushes we use?
A new study in the Journal of Hospital Infection says: maybe not.
Researchers compared several types of endoscope brushes and found some pretty striking differences. Brushes with metal shafts and DuPont fibre bristles removed organic material significantly better than plastic or microfiber ones. In some cases, debris was still visible after cleaning with lower-performing brushes—even after multiple passes.
The takeaway? Not all brushes are equal, and choosing the right type could directly impact reprocessing effectiveness.
This kind of basic-yet-critical detail is exactly where infection prevention and device design intersect. If you’re in the weeds of reprocessing, it’s worth asking: are we using the right tools for the job?
Comments