About a hundred patients at the North Hospital of Marseille had their endoscopy appointment canceled, following the discovery of a bacterium on the equipment used to perform this procedure. The endoscope is an optical tube fitted with lighting which enables organ explorations. Endoscopy can be done to diagnose disease or during surgery.
It is the pseudomonas bacterium, usually present in water, which was discovered on the endoscopes of the Marseille hospital. It can cause serious infections in people with already weakened immune systems.
No patient was infected
As a precautionary measure, all endoscopies were suspended and the contaminated devices were placed in sequestration by order of the committee for the fight against nosocomial infections.
The plumbing circuits will be checked and the devices used to clean the endoscopes should be replaced by February 13.
Health authorities emphasize that no patient has been infected.
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