Managing Endoscopes

A potential superbug linked to contaminated gastroscopes at UPMC in Pittsburgh, PA was discussed in a recent article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (01/03/17). The author, Dr. Lawrence Muscarella, wrote that the infected gastroscopes may have infected up to 6 patients with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), a deadly superbug. This article by Gordon Gibb of LawyersandSettlements.com […]

FujiFilm Medical Systems, USA Endoscopy Division (“FMSU-ESD”) declared this week that it is removing some of its older model duodenoscopes from the market. According to FujiFilm, the ED-250XL5, ED-250XT5, ED-450XL5, and ED-450XT5 model duodenoscopes are the models that are being recalled. Per a press release from FujiFilm, which can be found here: “These devices are

A leading organization again named Endoscope Reprocessing one of its top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2017. For several years now, ECRI Institute has listed Endoscope Reprocessing near the top of its annual list of health technology hazards. ECRI (www.ecri.org), a nonprofit organization, dedicates itself to bringing the discipline of applied scientific research to healthcare

Senior executives at Olympus have recently declined to make any comment regarding emails that have surfaced in an investigation by Kaiser Health News and the Los Angeles Times. The emails seem to point to Olympus managers treating the infection risk to patients due to improper cleaning of duodenoscopes as “acceptable.” This article found at Kaiser

Progress in patient safety has been a challenge in many areas of the hospital and many facilities have made significant changes in their practice of reprocessing endoscopes.  With this said, guidelines and practice are in a continuous state of change. It is the responsibility of the hospital to make sure they do not become too

Hospitals have used the 5 rights of medication administration as a foundation to build on as part of their patient safety initiatives: the right patient the right drug the right dose the right route the right time There is no reason we can not take the same approach to endoscope reprocessing. the right patient the