<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?><article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<front>
<journal-meta>
<journal-id>2341-4545</journal-id>
<journal-title><![CDATA[GE-Portuguese Journal of Gastroenterology]]></journal-title>
<abbrev-journal-title><![CDATA[GE Port J Gastroenterol]]></abbrev-journal-title>
<issn>2341-4545</issn>
<publisher>
<publisher-name><![CDATA[Sociedade Portuguesa de Gastrenterologia]]></publisher-name>
</publisher>
</journal-meta>
<article-meta>
<article-id>S2341-45452025000100067</article-id>
<article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1159/000539455</article-id>
<title-group>
<article-title xml:lang="en"><![CDATA[Implementation of a Microbiological Surveillance Protocol in a Portuguese Tertiary Care Academic Endoscopy Unit]]></article-title>
<article-title xml:lang="pt"><![CDATA[Implementação de Protocolo de Vigilância Microbiológica numa Unidade Terciária de Endoscopia Portuguesa]]></article-title>
</title-group>
<contrib-group>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname><![CDATA[Monteiro]]></surname>
<given-names><![CDATA[Cristiana]]></given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aff"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aaf"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname><![CDATA[Lima]]></surname>
<given-names><![CDATA[Jorge]]></given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aff"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aaf"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname><![CDATA[Ribeiro]]></surname>
<given-names><![CDATA[Tiago]]></given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aff"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aaf"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="A a"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="A3"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname><![CDATA[Gonçalves]]></surname>
<given-names><![CDATA[Maria Helena]]></given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aff"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname><![CDATA[Gonçalves]]></surname>
<given-names><![CDATA[Natália]]></given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aff"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aaf"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname><![CDATA[Oliveira]]></surname>
<given-names><![CDATA[Carina]]></given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aff"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aaf"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname><![CDATA[Soares]]></surname>
<given-names><![CDATA[Liliana]]></given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aff"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aaf"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname><![CDATA[Carvalho]]></surname>
<given-names><![CDATA[Ana]]></given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aff"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aaf"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname><![CDATA[Vilas-Boas]]></surname>
<given-names><![CDATA[Filipe]]></given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aff"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aaf"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="A a"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="A3"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname><![CDATA[Ribeiro]]></surname>
<given-names><![CDATA[Maria Manuela]]></given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aff"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname><![CDATA[Macedo]]></surname>
<given-names><![CDATA[Guilherme]]></given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aff"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aaf"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="A a"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="A3"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname><![CDATA[Barros]]></surname>
<given-names><![CDATA[Sónia]]></given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aff"/>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aaf"/>
</contrib>
</contrib-group>
<aff id="Af1">
<institution><![CDATA[,Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João Department of Gastroenterology ]]></institution>
<addr-line><![CDATA[Porto ]]></addr-line>
<country>Portugal</country>
</aff>
<aff id="Af2">
<institution><![CDATA[,WGO Gastroenterology and Hepatology Porto Training Center  ]]></institution>
<addr-line><![CDATA[Porto ]]></addr-line>
<country>Portugal</country>
</aff>
<aff id="Af3">
<institution><![CDATA[,University of Porto Faculty of Medicine Department of Medicine]]></institution>
<addr-line><![CDATA[Porto ]]></addr-line>
<country>Portugal</country>
</aff>
<aff id="Af4">
<institution><![CDATA[,Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João Department of Clinical Pathology ]]></institution>
<addr-line><![CDATA[Porto ]]></addr-line>
<country>Portugal</country>
</aff>
<pub-date pub-type="pub">
<day>00</day>
<month>02</month>
<year>2025</year>
</pub-date>
<pub-date pub-type="epub">
<day>00</day>
<month>02</month>
<year>2025</year>
</pub-date>
<volume>32</volume>
<numero>1</numero>
<fpage>67</fpage>
<lpage>74</lpage>
<copyright-statement/>
<copyright-year/>
<self-uri xlink:href="http://www.scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S2341-45452025000100067&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso"></self-uri><self-uri xlink:href="http://www.scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_abstract&amp;pid=S2341-45452025000100067&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso"></self-uri><self-uri xlink:href="http://www.scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_pdf&amp;pid=S2341-45452025000100067&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso"></self-uri><abstract abstract-type="short" xml:lang="en"><p><![CDATA[Abstract  Introduction:  International societies recommend microbiological surveillance of endoscopes to reduce the incidence of endoscope-associated infections, particularly for duodenoscopes. However, surveillance protocols are not internationally standardized, both regarding sample collection, processing, and culture. This study aims to provide a framework protocol encompassing the experience of a tertiary large volume endoscopy center and the microbiology laboratory for collecting and culturing of endoscope samples for microbiological surveillance.  Methods:  A sample collection and processing protocol was designed as a result of a cooperation between the Endoscopy Center of the Gastroenterology Department and the Microbiology Laboratory of the Department of Clinical Pathology. This protocol re&#64258;ects international recommendations in this topic and the human and technological resources of the involved departments.  Results:  The established protocol for collecting samples varies according to the type and model of endoscope. The specimens are collected as sterile saline liquid samples, as well as swabs (with and without transport media). Together with the collection of samples from the endoscope, samples from the &#64257;nal rinse water as well as the water bottle are also collected. For duodenoscopes and curvilinear echoendoscopes, we perform microbiological surveillance every 3 months; for gastroscopes and colonoscopes, at least, once a year; and for speci&#64257;c endoscopes, such as the pediatric or dual-channel therapeutic endoscopes, enteroscopes, or radial echoendoscopes, every 6 months.  Conclusion:  Endoscopy units should have detailed protocols for microbiological surveillance of endoscopes. These protocols should be drawn up by a multidisciplinary team that includes endoscopy nurses, gastroenterologists, microbiologists, and the antimicrobial stewardship team, following international recommendations, adapted to each institution resources.]]></p></abstract>
<abstract abstract-type="short" xml:lang="pt"><p><![CDATA[Resumo  Introdução:  As sociedades cientí&#64257;cas internacionais recomendam a vigilância microbiológica para reduzir a incidência de infeções associadas aos endoscópios, particularmente dos duodenoscópios. Contudo, não existe uma padronização internacional dos protocolos de vigilância microbiológica, tanto no que diz respeito à colheita, quanto à cultura e análise das amostras. Este estudo tem como objetivo estabelecer um protocolo com base na experiência de um centro terciário de endoscopia digestiva e do laboratório de microbiologia para a colheita e cultura de amostras de endoscópios para vigilância microbiológica.  Métodos:  Foi elaborado um protocolo de colheita e processamento de amostras como resultado da cooperação entre a Unidade de Endoscopia e o Laboratório de Microbiologia do Departamento de Patologia Clínica de um hospital terciário. Este protocolo re&#64258;ete as recomendações internacionais nesta área, assim como os recursos humanos e tecnológicos necessários à sua implementação.  Resultados:  Oprotocolo estabelecido para a colheita de amostras varia de acordo com o tipo e modelo do endoscópio. São colhidas amostras líquidas em meio salino estéril, bem como zaragatoas (com e sem meio de transporte). Simultaneamente, são colhidas amostras da água do enxaguamento &#64257;nal e do copo de água. Para duodenoscópios e ecoendoscópios curvilíneos, foi realizada uma vigilância trimestral; para gastroscópios e colonoscópios, essa vigilância foi realizada, pelo menos, anualmente; para endoscópios especí&#64257;cos, como endoscópios pediátricos ou terapêuticos de duplo canal, enteroscópios ou ecoendoscópios radiais, foi realizada uma vigilância semestral.  Conclusão:  As unidades de endoscopia devem estabelecer protocolos detalhados de vigilância microbiológica dos endoscópios. Estes protocolos deverão ser elaborados por uma equipa multidisciplinar que inclua enfermeiros de endoscopia digestiva, gastroenterologistas, microbiologistas e a equipa responsável pela gestão de antimicrobianos, seguindo as recomendações internacionais, adaptadas aos recursos de cada instituição.]]></p></abstract>
<kwd-group>
<kwd lng="en"><![CDATA[Microbiological surveillance]]></kwd>
<kwd lng="en"><![CDATA[Protocol]]></kwd>
<kwd lng="en"><![CDATA[Endoscopy]]></kwd>
<kwd lng="en"><![CDATA[Endoscope reprocessing]]></kwd>
<kwd lng="pt"><![CDATA[Vigilância microscópica]]></kwd>
<kwd lng="pt"><![CDATA[Protocolo]]></kwd>
<kwd lng="pt"><![CDATA[Endoscopia]]></kwd>
<kwd lng="pt"><![CDATA[Reprocessamento endoscópico]]></kwd>
</kwd-group>
</article-meta>
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