Follow-up and management of patients exposed to a flawed automated endoscope washer-disinfector in a digestive diseases unit.
The possible transmission of pathogens to 236 persons exposed to an endoscope processed in a flawed automated endoscope washer-disinfector in a gastrointestinal endoscopy unit was investigated. During 6 months, 197 patients (83.5%) were followed up, and no cases of acute human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, or hepatitis B virus infection were observed. This event created the conditions for improvements in safety procedures.
Vanhems
Philippe
P
Unite d'Epidemiologie et d'Hygiene Hospitaliere, Hopital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France. Philipva@lyon-sud.univ-lyon1.fr
Gayet-Ageron
Angele
A
Ponchon
Thierry
T
Bernet
Claude
C
Chayvialle
Jean-Alain
JA
Chemorin
Christine
C
Morandat
Leone
L
Bibollet
Marie-Ange
MA
Chevallier
Philippe
P
Ritter
Jacques
J
Fabry
Jacques
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D020776:Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged