Discussions in Infection Control

An independent site by Lawrence F Muscarella PhD -- a national authority on the causes and prevention of healthcare-associated infections and related errors.

Category: Infection Prevention

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria carbapenem Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Carbapenems Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Custom Ultrasonics Disease Transmission Endoscope Reprocessing Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Escherichia coli Ethylene Oxide Gas Sterilization Food and Drug Administration Gastrointestinal Endoscopy GI Endoscopes Healthcare-Acquired Infections Hepatitis (B and C) Viruses High-Level Disinfection HIV Infection Prevention Klebsiella pneumoniae Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase]-producing K. pneumoniae Low-Temperature Sterilization Medical Errors Outbreak Investigations Patient Notification Pentax Risk Assessment Risk Management Veterans Health Administration

Lessons Taught by a Recent “Superbug” Outbreak: Could ‘Ex Post Facto’ Notification be Warranted?

January 21, 2014 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

April 21, 2014 — Advocate Lutheran General Hospital (Park Ridge, IL) in 2013 linked multiple patient infections and colonizations of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or “CRE,” to contaminated gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopes. This…

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Automated Endoscope Reprocessors Bacterial Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Carbapenems Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Custom Ultrasonics Delayed Reprocessing Disease Transmission Disinfection Endoscope Reprocessing Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Escherichia coli Ethylene Oxide Gas Sterilization Food and Drug Administration GI Endoscopes High-Level Disinfection Infection Prevention Instrument Reprocessing Klebsiella pneumoniae Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase]-producing K. pneumoniae Outbreak Investigations Pentax Quality Assurance Quality System Regulation Risk Management Root Causes Analysis Transmission-Based Precautions

GI Endoscopy: Pushed Beyond its Reprocessing Limits?

January 14, 2014 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

This article is divided into two sections, for the reader’s convenience: “Part 1: ‘The Outbreak'” and “Part 2: ‘Commentary: An superbug outbreak waiting to happen?'” (‘Part 2’ can be read…

Auxiliary Water Channel Best Practices Byrne Medical Central Sterile Processing Colonoscopes Colonoscopy Delayed Reprocessing Device Contamination Disease Transmission Disinfection Disposable Irrigation Tubing Endoscope Reprocessing ERBE Food and Drug Administration Gastrointestinal Endoscopy GI Endoscopes Hepatitis (B and C) Viruses High-Level Disinfection HIV Infection Prevention MAJ-855 Water Tube Manufacturers Medical Errors Medivators Product Labeling Quality Assurance Risk Management Semicritical Devices Single-Use Disposable Devices STERIS The Reuse of Single-Use Devices US Endoscopy

Guidance for the Safe Use of “Disposable” Irrigation Tubing Used During GI Endoscopy

October 17, 2013 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

October 17, 2013 — This is the third and final article in a series discussing disposable tubing used for irrigation during gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. This is the most complete set…

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