NEW YORK - The proper disinfection of endoscopes has reached national media. After a recent Pseudomonas outbreak at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, more attention is being paid to the proper cleaning of these delicate medical instruments.
Healthcare officials were interviewed last week by reporters on ABC's morning program, "Good Morning America." They reported that 15 million endoscopic procedures are performed in the United States annually, with the chance of become infected from a contaminated endoscope being one in 1.8 million,
However, other officials disagree. David Lewis, a microbiologist with the University of Georgia, reportedly told officials on the program that the infection rate could be as high as several patients per 100 procedures.
Tracing a specific microbe or bacteria back the endoscope after a patient becomes ill can be a difficult process, potentially altering the true infection rates.
Hospital officials at the Summit Surgical Center in Voorhees, N. J. are facing a lawsuit from 1,800 former patients who may have been treated with endoscopes that were not cleaned properly. The machine the center was using to clean the instruments was reportedly not working properly for a two-week period.
Officials at the Food and Drug Administration and the journal Gastrointestinal Endoscopy say endoscopes are not being cleaned to industry standards.
Officials are now pursing disposable endoscope technology to rid the procedure of potential noscomial infections.
Information from www.abc.com
Product Locator: Spring and Early Mother's Day Gift Guide for Infection Prevention Personnel
March 27th 2024Whether it's a spring holiday, birthdays, or no reason at all, infection prevention personnel love to give and receive gifts that help at the end of a stressful day. Infection Control Today® offers some gift ideas for infection prevention personnel and their families.
The Role of Environmental Hygiene in Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance
March 19th 2024Uncover the pivotal role of environmental hygiene in thwarting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) for infection prevention teams. Learn how rigorous cleaning protocols and advanced technologies enhance patient safety and combat AMR.