Another possible outbreak from contaminated duodenoscopes

Editor's Note

Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena, California, alerted health authorities on August 19 to a suspected outbreak of bacterial infections associated with contaminated duodenoscopes, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Three patients with Pseudomonas bacterial infections had procedures with Olympus duodenoscopes. The bacteria are similar to the carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae superbug at the center of the outbreak at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Medical Center earlier this year that sickened eight patients, three of whom died. 

A Pasadena hospital is investigating a suspected outbreak related to the same type of medical scope tied to superbug infections across the country, the Los Angeles Times has learned. Huntington Memorial Hospital said Wednesday it has alerted health authorities about a potential link between patients who have the bacteria known as pseudomonas and the Olympus Corp.