Effects of different drying temperatures and times on the drying efficiency in reprocessing of flexible endoscopes

Background: The drying process is a crucial step in the reprocessing of flexible endoscopes. However, the optimal drying time remains inconclusive, and the impact of temperature on drying efficiency is still unclear. This study aims to provide experimental data on the optimal parameters for endoscope drying in terms of time and temperature. Methods: Ten gastroscopes and ten colonoscopes from a tertiary hospital’s endoscopy center were randomly assigned to different groups based on two temperature conditions (30°C and 50°C) and dried for 30 seconds, 3 minutes, 6 minutes, 9 minutes, and 12 minutes, respectively. Residual liquid was quantitatively assessed using a borescope to determine the optimal drying parameters. Results: A total of 200 observations were made across the temperature and time combinations. The results showed significant differences in the number of residual droplets and the drying pass rates at different times (P < 0.001). A drying time of 12 minutes achieved complete drying of the gastroscopes. Notably, after 30 seconds of drying, a significant difference was observed in the number of residual droplets between the two temperature groups (P < 0.05), with fewer droplets present at 50°C. Conclusion: Drying time significantly affects the drying efficiency of endoscopes, with 12 minutes being the optimal duration. Maintaining a temperature of 50°C can shorten drying time and improve efficiency.