tcf-no-longer-accepting-cases

April 9, 2015 — Hospitals around the nation have linked duodenoscopes to outbreaks of “superbugs,” and now some say even high-level disinfection leaves 3% of scopes contaminated.

Bloomberg reports that officials at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle heightened cleaning procedures after a “superbug” outbreak, but even after “meticulous manual cleaning,” 3% of the scopes tested positive for contamination and had to be re-cleaned.

According to Bloomberg:

“On average, about one scope a week is still contaminated after cleaning. If every U.S. hospital had a similar rate, that would mean 15,000 operations a year performed with dirty ERCP endoscopes.”

Outbreaks have been reported in California, Washington, Illinois, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and other states. Earlier this year, the FDA warned that the complex design of duodenoscopes makes them extremely difficult to sterilize.

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Pennsylvania has confirmed that 8 patients tested positive for drug-resistant “superbug” bacteria after undergoing duodenoscope procedures from 2013-2014, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Health officials in Mississippi are also investigating outbreaks of CRE. The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) has seen about 40 cases in the last three to four years, and other hospitals across the state have had cases, according to MS News Now.

Virginia Mason reported that 32 patients were infected with an antibiotic-resistant strain of E. coli between November 2012 and August 2013, including 11 who died. The hospital said it followed the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and disinfection.

 

Meet Your Attorney

Collen A. Clark

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

“Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

To contact Collen, please fill out the contact form below:

Free Confidential Case Evaluation

Verified 100% Secure SiteTo contact us for a free review of your potential case, please fill out the form below or call us toll free 24 hrs/day by dialing: (866) 879-3040.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.