Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, is joining a suit against a scope manufacturer tied to outbreaks, according to an article on the Seattle Times website.
The hospital was originally targeted in the suit by the widow of a superbug victim.
At least 39 people developed multidrug-resistant infections allegedly spread by dangerous bacteria that remained on specialized duodenoscopes even after they were cleaned according to manufacturers’ directions. At least 18 Virginia Mason patients affected by the outbreak have died.
Virginia Mason has since spent at least $1 million to implement a culture-and-quarantine protocol that tests cleaned scopes for dangerous bacteria and holds them until they’re safe to use.
Since implementing their test-and-hold protocol, no new infections have been detected.
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