A special endoscope used to detect and treat digestive disorders has been connected to CRE, an antibiotic-resistant bacteria that kills up to 40 percent of patients it infects. These specific endoscopes, referred to as duodenoscopes, may harbor bacteria because they are difficult to clean.
From the story: “Yet neither the scopes' manufacturers nor the Food and Drug Administration, which regulates them, have publicized or offered guidance on the problem. So, many doctors who use the scopes — and most of the patients they treat — don't know the risks. Nor do they know that steps can be taken to cut those risks dramatically.”
Read the full story by USA Today.