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: Outbreak Investigations

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Audits Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Corrective and Preventive Actions Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase]-producing K. pneumoniae NDM-producing E. coli Outbreak Investigations Pseudomonas aeruginosa Transmission-Based Precautions

Association of GI Endoscopy with Two Patient Deaths: Illinois, 2013

June 24, 2014 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

February 9, 2015 — The FDA’s “MAUDE” database (or, “Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience” database) lists medical device reports, or MDRs, which document the association of one or more…

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Automated Endoscope Reprocessors Best Practices Biofilms Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Disease Transmission Disinfection E. coli Endoscope Reprocessing Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Environmental Contamination Escherichia coli Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Ethylene Oxide Gas Sterilization FUJIFILM Gastrointestinal Endoscopy GI Endoscopes Handwashing Sinks Healthcare-Acquired Infections High-Level Disinfection Infection Prevention Intermediate-Level Disinfection Klebsiella pneumoniae Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase]-producing K. pneumoniae Olympus Outbreak Investigations Pentax Peracetic Acid Pseudomonas aeruginosa Risk Management Serratia marcescens Transmission-Based Precautions

Multiple Outbreaks of a ‘Nightmarish Bacteria’ Linked to Contaminated Endoscopes in the U.S and Europe: Has a ‘Smoking Gun’ Been Found?

January 29, 2014 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

A popular Sunday morning television news show aired a segment on January 15, 2014, that provided helpful advice about a concerning outbreak of “nightmare bacteria” that had been linked just…

Colonoscopes Disease Transmission Endoscope Reprocessing Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) GI Endoscopes Hepatitis (B and C) Viruses HIV Infection Prevention Medical Errors Multi-Dose Medicine Vials Outbreak Investigations Single-Dose Medicine Vials Syringes or Needles

Confirmed Patient-to-Patient Transmission of Hepatitis C in Canada during Endoscopy, 2014

January 23, 2014 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD

September 20, 2014 — The Brant News (Canada) reported on January 23, 2014, that human error is likely to blame for at least one instance of hepatitis C infection following…

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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Endoscope-Associated Infections Healthcare Quality, Safety Healthcare-Acquired Infections Medicare's HAC Reduction Program

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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
Bronchoscopes Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Endoscope Reprocessing Gastroscopes Infection Prevention Rebuttals TPT Medicare Payment Status

Dr. Muscarella’s Recent Recommendations to Medicare to Prevent Hospital-Acquired Infections

September 16, 2024 Lawrence F Muscarella PhD