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

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Endoscope Reprocessing Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Glutaraldehyde Instrument Reprocessing Klebsiella pneumoniae Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase]-producing K. pneumoniae Outbreak Investigations Patient Notification Pentax

Response to a Fox News Report about a “Superbug” Outbreak at a Hospital in Illinois, 2013

January 16, 2014 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

January 16, 2014 — The leading news source Fox News produced the insightful report: “Troubling outbreak of drug-resistant bacteria a growing threat” (January 15, 2014). While this report by Fox…

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…

Ambulatory Surgery Centers Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Automated Endoscope Reprocessors Bedside Cleaning Best Practices Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Cystoscopes Flexible "ENT" Laryngoscopes Glutaraldehyde Hepatitis (B and C) Viruses HIV Instrument Reprocessing Joint Commission (JCAHO) Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase]-producing K. pneumoniae ortho-phthalaldehyde Patient Notification Pseudomonas aeruginosa Risk Management Serratia spp. Sheaths Transparency

Risk of Disease Transmission during Cystoscopy: Discussion of a Specific Error in Maine

December 6, 2013 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

December 5, 2013 —A hospital in Maine (USA) confirmed today a medical error — namely, that it had been improper cleaning cystoscopes after their use during certain urological procedures. This…

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