Provence has revealed that the North Hospital of Marseille is facing contamination. Bacteria were found in 9 of the 18 endoscopes.
Undergoing an endoscopy is never a piece of fun, but for a hundred patients at the North hospital in Marseille, the examination is even more unpleasant. Provence revealed this Thursday that about 100 people have been called back to see their doctor for a suspected contamination. A bacteria, Pseudomonas, was found on half of the endoscopes used for examinations of the digestive or respiratory system.
The Marseille newspaper had access to the report of a “crisis meeting” held at the North hospital in Marseille on January 20. It indicates that Pseudomonas was demonstrated in 9 of the 18 endoscopes. As provided for in the procedure, the Committee for the Fight against Nosocomial Infections was immediately notified; he immediately proceeded with the sequestration of the devices in question.
Old devices
The source of this contamination is not yet proven, but Provence indicates that the issue of the obsolescence of some washing machines was raised during the meeting on January 20. Moreover, the management decided to accelerate the replacement of 7 devices, 15 years old, “which should be carried out this year”, specifies the Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM). There would also be no contamination in the water distribution circuits.
For the time being, exams – except in emergencies – are suspended. Appointments were therefore postponed and some patients sent to other imaging centers. Those who underwent an endoscopy between December 11, 2016 and January 11, have been recalled. “None of them showed clinical signs of contamination,” said the management of the AP-HM.
Unions worried about staff
But if the management indicates that “everything should be in order next Monday”, the unions do not hear it that way. While waiting for the new machines, the washing of endoscopes must be done by hand, and the powerful disinfectant used (peracetic acid) poses a problem. The Force Ouvrière union believes that this manual procedure can pose problems for people’s health. Audrey Jolibois, secretary general of FO, list of possible nausea, headaches, nosebleeds and burns to the hands, or even to the eyes in the event of projection. The trade unionist deplores not having received a response from the management following the sending of 2 letters to the management.
The latter, for its part, considers that the procedure is classic and that the agents who are not familiar with this practice “have been accompanied and followed by occupational medicine”. This affair will undoubtedly do nothing to fix the social context, considered “explosive” by Provence, which recalls that a strike notice of 2 months was filed by the inter-union (FO, CGT, CNI).
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