News Brief by Kathryn Gibb
CRE, or
carbapenem-resistant enterbacteriaceae, is a family of germs that can develop into antibiotic resistant bacteria. Recently, the U.C.L.A medical center
discovered that these germs were transmitted to patients via improperly
sterilized duodenoscopes. These medical
scopes are used in procedures to diagnose and treat diseases. The devices have many small crevices that
make them easy to house leftover body fluids and germs, while making them
difficult to clean. When not properly disinfected, the scopes have the
potential to transmit the dangerous CRE bacteria. Antibiotic resistant bacteria can make
infections impossible to treat, oftentimes resulting in death. Although the U.C.LA medical center claimed
that the scopes were cleaned according to the manufacturing company’s
standards, two of the seven duodenoscopes used at the hospital had been
suspected to transmit the germs to patients.
The hospital has agreed to clean the scopes in a way that “goes above
and beyond the manufacturer and national standards,” according to a statement
issued by the U.C.L.A Health System.
While the FDA has the power to remove these scopes from the market,
currently there aren’t any alternatives to these devices. Rather than potentially creating a greater public
health problem by removing the scopes from the market, it appears they will
remain in use. For now, the scopes will
be cleaned thoroughly to prevent the further spread of this infection.
Tavernise, Sabrina. "Deadly CRE
Germs Linked to Hard-to-Clean Medical Scopes." Health. The New York
Times, 19 Feb. 2015. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
.
Posts
