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: Instrument Reprocessing

Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News Immediate Use Steam Sterilization (IUSS) Instrument Reprocessing Joint Commission (JCAHO) Monitoring Rinse Water Multisociety Guidance Rigid Laryngoscopes Sheaths Spaulding's Device Classification

Dr. Muscarella’s Review of the New Multisociety Guidance for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities

November 11, 2025 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

Due to the risk of bacterial infections (and potential legal exposure), this article's review of the 2025 multisociety guideline therefore recommends caution whenever considering IUSS, particularly for surgical implants --…

Antibiotic Resistance Candida auris Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) COVID-19 Data Validation Death Certificates Influenza Viruses Instrument Reprocessing SARS-CoV-2 virus Superbugs

Comparison of COVID-19 Federal Guidance for Certifying Deaths to the CDC’s Assessments of Superbug-Related Deaths

August 20, 2020 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

This post reviews the CDC’s April guidance for recording the cause of deaths related to the COVID-19 virus, and compares it to published assessments of the cause of death of…

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Colonoscopy Corrective and Preventive Actions Device Contamination Device Recalls Disease Transmission Disinfection Endoscope Reprocessing Endoscope Sampling Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) Ethylene Oxide Gas FUJIFILM Gastrointestinal Endoscopy GI Endoscopes Healthcare-Acquired Infections Infection Prevention Instrument Reprocessing Olympus Pentax Quality Assurance Quality System Regulation Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates Sterilization USA Today

USA TODAY: “Deadly bacteria on medical scopes trigger infections”

January 21, 2015 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

The USA TODAY article that everyone in the field is talking about: “Deadly bacteria on medical scopes trigger infections” (By: Peter Eisler, 6:21 p.m. EST January 21, 2015) Important quotes…

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Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News Immediate Use Steam Sterilization (IUSS) Instrument Reprocessing Joint Commission (JCAHO) Monitoring Rinse Water Multisociety Guidance Rigid Laryngoscopes Sheaths Spaulding's Device Classification

Dr. Muscarella’s Review of the New Multisociety Guidance for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities

November 11, 2025 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Endoscope-Associated Infections Healthcare Quality, Safety Healthcare-Acquired Infections Medicare's HAC Reduction Program

A Proposal to Include ‘Endoscope-Associated Infections’ as a Reportable Medicare Measure to Promote Patient Safety

July 28, 2025 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD
Adverse Event Reports Food and Drug Administration Food Drug and Cosmetic Act Informed Consent Medical Device Reports (MDRs) Misbranded Devices Patient Notification Warning letters (FDA)

Hundreds of Thousands of Device Reports Were Submitted Late to FDA, a New Study Has Found, Raising Safety Questions

May 13, 2025 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD
Colonoscopy Endoscope Reprocessing Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Hepatitis (B and C) Viruses HIV Patient Notification Vanderbilt Medical Center

Endoscopy Patients at Vanderbilt Potentially Exposed to HIV and Hepatitis, County Officials Have Confirmed

November 26, 2024 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD