3 Things You Should Know Before Your Endoscopy

The recent news story about patients at UCLA medical center developing a life-threatening infection has been shocking. Two of seven infected patients died from the nightmare bacteria carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) after an ordinary medical device was used to inspect their digestive system. In this specific case, a type of endoscope called a duodenoscope was used to perform the procedure. Although the design of the duodenoscope largely carried the blame, the medical community should now be looking to make all types of upper endoscopy safer, because many of them have been implicated in other outbreaks of dangerous bacteria and viruses.