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Event report: Revolution in Decontamination Day

  • Writer: Fruzsina Julianna David
    Fruzsina Julianna David
  • Jun 24
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jun 25

Event overview


On 18th June, PFE Medical hosted its first fully self-organised scientific event, the Revolution in Decontamination Day, at the UCLH Education Centre in London.


This landmark event aimed to showcase the latest innovations in endoscope and ultrasound decontamination, while also fostering inspiration and collaboration among dedicated professionals in the field. The program included four expert presentations, live technology demonstrations, and several opportunities for networking, all held in a friendly yet professional environment. Attendees included Endoscopy Technicians, Decontamination Supervisors and Managers from NHS Trusts, alongside representatives from other healthcare organisations.

Rob Hartley, managing director of PFE Medical, presenting the Khamsin automated endoscope cleaning system to an audience. The Khamsin is designed to replace manual cleaning of flexible endoscopes, offering a reliable and efficient solution for endoscope pre-cleaning and disinfection in healthcare settings.
Rob (director of PFE Medical), presents the Khamsin automatic endoscope cleaning machine.

Presentations and introduction of speakers

Sharon Fox, head of decontamination at University Hospital of Birmingham NHS Trust, delivering a presentation on implementing medical innovation in healthcare. Her talk focused on the importance of involving key decision-makers early in the process and engaging end users to support smoother implementation and early adoption of new technologies in hospital decontamination practices.
Sharon Fox (head of decontamination) presenting on introducing medical innovation at University Hospital of Birmingham Trust.

Throughout the day, participants enjoyed four engaging presentations. We would like to

express our sincere thanks to our outstanding speakers for accepting our invitation and contributing their time, expertise, and presentation skills to the success of the event:


Dr Celine Herra illustrated the vulnerabilities of manual endoscope cleaning through hospital infection outbreak case studies. She thoroughly analysed the likely causes of infections and emphasised why manual cleaning is considered the Achilles’ heel of the reprocessing cycle.


Sharon Fox, Head of Decontamination at University Hospital Birmingham, discussed the practical aspects of implementing healthcare innovations. She stressed the importance of involving both decision-makers and end-users early in the device introduction process, as this greatly facilitates smooth implementation and faster adoption of new solutions.


Vanessa Blount highlighted the significant yet frequently overlooked risks associated with endoscopic water bottles. She highlighted hidden hygiene risks associated with these devices and potential problems during everyday use. Her talk also covered currently available solutions addressing these issues.


Fanny Poulon presented the latest developments in UV-C technology, focusing on the disinfection of nasoendoscopes, transoesophageal endoscopes, and ultrasound probes. She emphasized the significance of proper CE certification and testing, and how these innovations can be integrated into daily clinical workflows.


Feedback suggested that the speakers delivered not only high-quality technical content but also engaged the audience with compelling presentation styles.


Live demonstration


After lunch, the technology showcase took place. Attendees had the opportunity to see PFE Medical’s devices in action, including the Scirocco, Chronos, Khamsin, and the brand-new Chronos Max.


Participants were encouraged to ask questions, handle the equipment, and engage in professional discussions, allowing for active involvement in understanding the technologies and their operation. This hands-on exchange enabled attendees to evaluate the devices from their own professional perspectives. Several guests noted that the practical demonstrations were particularly valuable in understanding the real-world applications of the technologies.

Alicia, sales specialist at PFE Medical, presenting the Scirocco endoscope drying and storage system. The Scirocco uses artificial intelligence to ensure that all channels of flexible endoscopes are perfectly dry and safely stored for up to 30 days, supporting infection prevention and effective endoscope reprocessing in hospitals and clinics.
Alicia (sales specialist at PFE Medical), presents the Scirocco endoscope drying and storage system.

Participants and the atmosphere of the event


Approximately 40 guests attended the event. While most travelled from London, some journeyed several hours to join. The smaller group size allowed for more direct professional dialogues and contributed to a calm, focused environment throughout the day. The event’s atmosphere differed positively from larger congresses, thanks to its focused agenda and simple venue, attendees could delve more deeply into each topic.


The mission of the event


This event closely aligned with our mission; educating, highlighting practical challenges, and presenting tools and methods to help overcome them all ultimately aimed at patient safety. The presentations, demonstrations, and professional discussions were designed to equip attendees with real, usable knowledge for their daily work.


Community building was also an important objective of the event. By facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experience among professionals from different institutions, the event aimed to strengthen collaboration and mutual support within the decontamination field.


The challenges and successes of organising the event

Fanny Pulon, R&D Director at Germitec, presenting the Chronos Max UV-C High-Level Disinfection system at a medical conference. The Chronos Max is designed for rapid, chemical-free disinfection of Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) probes and ENT endoscopes without operating channels.
Fanny Poulon (R&D Director at Germitec), presents the Chronos Max.

Revolution in Decontamination Day holds a special place in PFE Medical’s history as our first self-organized event. Everyone contributed their expertise, from program planning to on-site guest management, building the day step by step.

Organising this event was a significant challenge, as we had previously only attended such events as exhibitors or sponsors, this time, the responsibility was entirely ours. Yet, this did not deter us, in fact, our team’s unity, enthusiasm, and flexibility proved that together we can achieve anything.


Our plans for the future


The PFE Medical event concluded successfully. The positive feedback from our guests confirmed that this path should continue. We are already planning the next event, expected to be held in Northern England later this year.


Meanwhile, photos from the event are available below the article, offering those who could not attend a glimpse into this special day.


A milestone for PFE Medical


Revolution in Decontamination Day marked an important milestone in our journey as an organisation. An event where we learned, taught, built connections, and were inspired.

We thank all participants, speakers, and our entire team for making this exceptional experience possible.


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