FDA Releases Recommendations to Combat Cross-Contamination from Endoscopes

Article

The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) is reporting that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published guidance for medical device manufacturers that is intended to mitigate the risk of cross-contamination from valves and accessories used with flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes. This is the latest in a series of recommendations the agency has released following an outbreak of infections linked to flexible endoscopes.

Between 2012 and the spring of 2015, endoscopes caused at least 250 life-threatening infections worldwide, including infections with the superbug carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae, according to the results of an investigation conducted by a U.S. Senate committee. In its most recent guidance, which was first proposed in January 2015, the FDA aims to highlight the cross-contamination risk associated with specific irrigation valves and accessories used with flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes, clarify terminology related to these devices, and outline risk mitigation strategies.

To read further from AAMI, CLICK HERE.

Recent Videos
Meet the Infection Control Today Editorial Advisory Board Members: Priya Pandya-Orozco, DNP, MSN, RN, PHN, CIC.
Infection Control Today Topic of the Month: Mental Health
Infection Control Today Topic of the Month: Mental Health
An eye instrument holding an intraocular lens for cataract surgery. How to clean and sterilize it appropriately?   (Adobe Stock 417326809By Mohammed)
UV-C Robots by OhmniLabs.  (Photo from OhmniLabs website.)
CDC  (Adobe Stock, unknown)
Laparoscopy(Adobe Stock 338216574 by Damian)
Sterile processing   (Adobe Stock, unknown)
Jill Holdsworth, CIC, FAPIC, NREMT, CRCST, manager of infection prevention at Emory University Hospital Midtown; and Cheron Rojo, BS, FCs, CHL, CIS, CER, CFER, CRCST, clinical education coordinator for sterile processing departments, Healthmark
Related Content