(Oleg Popov / ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Hartford Hospital is reporting that 281 of their patients have been exposed to a drug-resistant strain of e-coli in the past year as a result of a procedure requiring the use of a defective endoscopic probe. They also report that as many or five or six of those patients were known to have been infected.
Hospitals in Los Angeles are reporting similar and deadly superbug outbreaks tied to the use of the same probe – a fiber-optic instrument called a duodenoscope.
What are government regulators doing on this problem?
The FDA has just issued updated safety alerts for duodenoscopes, urging medical providers to inform patients of the risks, including the possible transmission of infection, associated with the use of such instruments.
The complex design of the instrument appears to be the cause of the problem – hindering cleaning. In fact, FDA spokespeople have confirmed that manufacturers’ own tests of disinfection measures they recommend contained flaws that rendered those cleaning procedures unreliable.
And who are the makers of these devices? Camera companies such as Olympus Corp (7733.T), Fujifilm Holdings Corp (4901.T), and Pentax are the primary manufacturers.
So what’s next for patients who might have been exposed?
If you’ve had a procedure requiring the use of one of these probes, you should check with your physician immediately and request a screening test.
If you or a loved one is ever the victim of a defective medical product call a qualified Connecticut defective product lawyer. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help to ensure that your rights are protected.
RisCassi & Davis has handled large numbers of these kinds of cases over our 60 years serving the people of Connecticut.
What’s more, our Connecticut defective product lawyers have received local and national recognition for our handling of these cases.
Please contact us if we can help you. The consultation is free and there is no obligation of any kind. And – there is no fee or other costs unless we are successful on your behalf.