For Endoscopes Tied to Serious Infections, Current Cleaning Methods Not Enough

[IceWizard]

(HealthDay News) --
Recent outbreaks of dangerous infections tied to endoscopic devices called duodenoscopes have grabbed headlines, and in March the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued strict guidelines on how best to disinfect the devices.
On Tuesday, the FDA announced extra cleaning measures for the devices, which are used to examine the interior of the digestive tract. But a new study finds that 100-percent
disinfection may simply not be possible under
the recommended protocols.

Even after what seems to be a thorough cleaning and disinfection, potentially harmful bacteria can survive on endoscopes, researchers reported.

"Colonoscopes and gastroscopes can harbor
residual organic material, including viable
microbes, even when adherence with
recommended reprocessing guidelines is
verified," concluded a team led by Cori Ofstead, of Ofstead

[Linville]

(HealthDay News) --
Recent outbreaks of dangerous infections tied to endoscopic devices called duodenoscopes have grabbed headlines, and in March the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued strict guidelines on how best to disinfect the devices.
On Tuesday, the FDA announced extra cleaning measures for the devices, which are used to examine the interior of the digestive tract. But a new study finds that 100-percent
disinfection may simply not be possible under
the recommended protocols.

Even after what seems to be a thorough cleaning and disinfection, potentially harmful bacteria can survive on endoscopes, researchers reported.

"Colonoscopes and gastroscopes can harbor
residual organic material, including viable
microbes, even when adherence with
recommended reprocessing guidelines is
verified," concluded a team led by Cori Ofstead, of Ofstead

Interesting article, IceWizard

I remember a while back a hospital contacted 1400 people that had procedures performed there requesting and advising them to come back for special screening for infectious disease they could have contracted during theirs.......and e reason was the instruments used had not been cleaned and dis- infected properly and someone finally realized it.


Ugh

[IceWizard]

Yeah Linville ... Some of our best germs and infections seem to be kept at our hospitals ..

You go there because you broke your arm .. Next thing you know, you're getting treated for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA) ... Even the damn name is impressive!

And that's how I octopus about it ....