Infection control and environmental sustainability: focus on practice

Abstract

Endoscopy is known to be a high generator of waste in healthcare. It also poses an infection risk to patients, both from their own endogenous flora and from exogenous micro-organisms. Increases in infection, as seen during the pandemic, result in increased use of single-use equipment, personal protective equipment, packaging and harmful chemicals. With the significant risk of a further pandemic within the next 5 years, both climate change and the risk of infections should be considered as health emergencies, as they create a revolving door scenario. This article reviews some of the endoscopic and non-endoscopic infection risks and practical ways in which we can improve our environmental footprint while maintaining infection prevention and control.