Duodenoscopes

Though there had been dozens of reported cases at several hospitals before, the issue of contaminated duodenoscopes didn't become a mainstream topic until early 2015. In February and the months since, headlines were filled with news of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections at Los Angeles's Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and up to 179 patients that may have been exposed to the CRE bacteria.

It was found that the bacteria had contaminated a type of endoscope called an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) duodenoscope, used to diagnose and treat diseases of the liver, bile duct, and pancreas.

These duodenoscopes can be difficult to sterilize completely becuase they have what FDA calls a "movable 'elevator' mechanism...[that] changes the angle of the accessory exiting the accessory channel," making the procedure easier and more useful, but also creating tiny spaces that can be hard to brush or clean perfectly. Despite adherence to manufacturer sterilization standards and national guidelines, some scopes were still found to have CRE bacteria on them.

Complicating the story further, FDA revealed that the duodenoscope model used in the UCLA cases, made by Olympus America Inc., never received FDA approval because Olympus initially believed agency review was not required. The company submitted a 510(k) after FDA requested it; that submission is apparently still under review. Olympus has since released new, validated reprocessing procedures for this duodenoscope model. 

Activists Say:

—Frank Nemec MD, patient advocate and board member of Hepatitis Outbreaks National Organization for Reform (HONOReform)

Industry Says:

—Nacho Abia, president, Medical Systems Group, Olympus Corporation of the Americas, in a March 5 letter to customers 

FDA Says:

—William Maisel MD, MPH, FDA's deputer center director for science and chief scientist for FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

FDA Actions:

2011: Issues draft guidance on the topic of reprocessing of medical devices in health care settings.

February 19, 2015: FDA issues a safety communication about difficulties in cleaning ERCP duodenoscopes. The agency recommends a few best practices in addition to following manufacturer instructions.

March 4, 2015: FDA issues an update to its safety communication, noting that the agency does not plan to order market removal of the Olympus duodenoscope model because this could cause a shortage of available devices needed to conduct approximately 500,000 annual ERCP procedures.  

March 2015: FDA schedules a meeting of the Gastroenterology and Urology Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee for May 14–15, 2015 to discuss this issue.

March 17, 2015: Publishes final guidance on the topic of reprocessing of medical devices in health care settings.

March 26, 2015: Issues another safety communication, pointing readers to the new, validated reprocessing instructions from Olympus. 

[Image courtesy of Olympus America Inc.]