An article in the New England Journal of Medicine compares reusable duodenoscopes with disposable duodenoscopes. Reusable duodenoscopes are cleaned and disinfected after each use, but the risk of contamination remains. Disposable duodenoscopes eliminate the risk of transmission of infections between patients. The study reported that reusable duodenoscopes had bacterial contamination rates of up to 20% even after processing. Disposable duodenoscopes show zero contamination in tested samples. The main finding is that disposable duodenoscopes significantly reduce the risk of medical complications associated with endoscopy. The article was published on January 22, 2026 in Volume 394, Issue 4, Pages 399-401.