By changing the way it sterilizes medical devices, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill., has been able to avoid cases of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections since an outbreak in 2013, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
Between January and September 2013, 38 patients who had undergone endoscopic procedures of the pancreas or bile ducts were found to be carrying CRE.
Following the outbreak, Lutheran General began using a gas sterilization process called EtO on the instruments. The gas is toxic, so it requires special facilities and equipment.
Since switching to the new process, Lutheran General has had no new cases of CRE since October 2013, according to the report.
More articles on CRE:
1 CRE infection reported at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital
Cedars-Sinai reports 'superbug' infections tied to hard-to-clean scopes: 6 things to know
ECRI Institute: Culture duodenoscopes to reduce CRE infections