Sam Brusco, Associate Editor04.03.18
Each year, duodenoscopes are used in over 500,000 procedures as a less invasive means than traditional surgery to drain fluids from pancreatic and biliary ducts that are obstructed by cancerous tumors, gallstones, or other gastrointestinal ailments. The modern, flexible, lighted duodenoscope—inserted through the mouth into the entrance of the small intestine—is a complex medical device containing numerous small working components that present a challenge during reprocessing. If improperly sterilized, the duodenoscope may retain contaminated tissue or fluid in the crevices between all the working parts.
That risk manifested in the severest manner in two Los Angeles, Calif., hospitals (Ronald Reagan UCLA and Cedars-Sinai), when an outbreak of carbapanem-resistant Enterobacteriae (CRE)—also known as a “superbug”—struck 11 patients, killing two. The culprit was, ironically, the fault of incomplete sterilization of an elevator channel on an Olympus scope that was recently modified to render it more resistant to infection.
One remedy to hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) like CRE creeping into these d
That risk manifested in the severest manner in two Los Angeles, Calif., hospitals (Ronald Reagan UCLA and Cedars-Sinai), when an outbreak of carbapanem-resistant Enterobacteriae (CRE)—also known as a “superbug”—struck 11 patients, killing two. The culprit was, ironically, the fault of incomplete sterilization of an elevator channel on an Olympus scope that was recently modified to render it more resistant to infection.
One remedy to hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) like CRE creeping into these d
Continue reading this story and get 24/7 access to Medical Product Outsourcing for FREE
Our in-depth coverage includes comprehensive feature articles, industry news, trends, and other developments pertinent to the service provider-OEM relationship. MPO examines the increasingly complex and demanding requirements of managing outsourcing partnerships. From regulatory mandates and manufacturing best practices to market shifts and legal concerns, our website is filled with exclusive content to help device manufacturers and their vendors stay informed. Join Today!
FREE SUBSCRIPTION
