No single medical device has been associated with more healthcare-associated infections than endoscopes, according the CDC. Improperly disinfected endoscopes used at Baystate Noble Hospital in Westfield, Mass, from 2012 to 2013 put nearly 300 patients at risk of exposure to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. In 2015, news broke that endoscopes used to conduct colonoscopies at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, Calif., were improperly cleaned over a seven-year period putting roughly 5,000 patients at increased risk for infection.
The high rate of endoscope use and issues pertaining to these devices are a testament to the necessity for consistent and thorough endoscope monitoring and systematic strategies on how to proceed should contamination occur.
On Dec. 5, Mary Ann Drosnock, manager of clinical education for endoscopy with Healthmark Industries, and Alpa Patel, senior scientist with Nelson Labs, will lead a discussion on valuable lessons learned from recent endoscope-related outbreaks, particular pathogens of concern, current testing methods available and how to proceed when a scope tests positive for growth.
To learn more and register for the webinar, click here.
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