Manufacturer of Scopes Cited in Spread of LA ‘Superbug’ Releases Updated Disinfection Process
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ChrisPole/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Olympus America, the company that manufactures the duodenoscopes that were cited in the spread of a superbug at a Los Angeles hospital in February, released an urgent safety notification regarding updated cleaning processes to ensure high levels of disinfection in between uses.
The new process, which consists of “revised manual cleaning and high level disinfection procedures,” should be implemented “as soon as possible,” the company says. Olympus recommends using a small bristle cleaning brush to clean the scopes. The company anticipates shipping these brushes to facilities by May 8. “Until your facility has received the brushes, you should continue to clean the…duodenoscope in accordance with the original cleaning instructions.”
The new process also includes “additional recess flushing” and “forceps elevator raising/lowering steps” during precleaning and manual cleaning. Facilities are additionally advised to flush the scopes with alcohol.
The company says that the updated procedures were reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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