Design Flaw in Endoscope Linked to UCLA Superbug Outbreak
Design Flaw in Endoscope Linked to UCLA Superbug Outbreak – The superbug outbreak at the Ronald Reagan Medical Center at University of California, Los Angeles, has been linked to a design flaw which prevents it from being cleaned properly.
The contaminated endoscopes have caused the death of two patients and infected five others. According to the medical center, as many as 179 patients may have been exposed to the deadly CRE bacteria. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has admitted that it knew about the design flaw but did not recall the device nor did it recommend new sterilization procedures.
The FDA said Thursday that from January 2013 to December 2014, it received reports of 135 patients potentially infected by contaminated scopes. But medical and safety experts say that the design flaws in the duodenoscopes have been reported for years.
According to hospital safety consultant Lawrence Muscarella, unless better guidance is provided on cleaning the devices or are redesigned, more patients will get sick.
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