How Olympus' Superbug Problem Just Got Worse
A new congressional report finds that infections related to a special endoscope, mostly manufactured by Olympus, were even more widespread than previously thought.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform report also finds that Olympus waited more than two years to alert U.S. healthcare providers about a cleaning brush it had recommended in Europe the scopes, called duodenoscopes, the report says.
The House committee obtained an FDA document, which covers the time period from January 1, 2010, to October 31, 2015, and includes incidents in which duodenoscopes were contaminated, as well as patients who were infected or exposed to bacteria in 30 facilities in the U.S. and 11 abroad.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform report also finds that Olympus waited more than two years to alert U.S. healthcare providers about a cleaning brush it had recommended in Europe the scopes, called duodenoscopes, the report says.
The House committee obtained an FDA document, which covers the time period from January 1, 2010, to October 31, 2015, and includes incidents in which duodenoscopes were contaminated, as well as patients who were infected or exposed to bacteria in 30 facilities in the U.S. and 11 abroad.