Risk and Prevention of Infections in the Bronchoscopy Room

Abstract

Bronchoscopy has diagnostic and therapeutic indications with increasing coverage as technology advances. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports more healthcare- associated outbreaks associated with endoscopy (including bronchoscopy) than with any other medical device. Post-bronchoscopy infections are a critical issue in pulmonology, given that they can worsen patient conditions, especially in individuals with compromised immune systems or a history of prior lung disease. These infections can arise from pathogens in the lower respiratory tract or infections transmitted from inadequate bronchoscopy reprocessing, which can lead to outbreaks. These infections are rare in patients, but there are reports of complications ranging from 0.2 to 5.2%, such as pneumonia, lung abscess, and empyema, which can affect patient survival. It is hoped that this literature review discussion can increase the knowledge of related medical personnel, especially pulmonologists, regarding the risks and prevention efforts for infections associated with bronchoscopy procedures.