The Structure of Reusable Bottles

Understanding the mechanics of the reusable water bottle will help you understand the infection control problems. Air travels through the scope and into the air tube of the water bottle. Once inside the water bottle, it pressurizes the bottle, forcing water up the tube and back into the scope. The water bottle top is a tube within a tube. The water feed tube travels through the air feed tube (Fig. 3).

Notice the space between the two tubes (Fig. 3). This is the area of concern; it is very difficult to clean or sterilize. Furthermore, if not properly maintained, it is a perfect place to harvest bacteria. One of the manufacturers, Olympus, has a device to assist in its cleaning and sterilization. The device is called a water container cleaning adapter (MH-436) (Fig. 4). Nine out of ten nurses working in endoscopy departments are not familiar with this cleaning adapter or its use. As we have researched the processes used to clean and sterilize the water bottles, we have found there is no consistent method used, but there are consisent problems.