California Health Inspectors Find Infection Control Lapses at 2 L.A. Hospitals

California health inspectors dispatched to two Los Angeles hospitals following “superbug” outbreaks involving a hard-to-clean medical scope found numerous safety violations that appeared to put more patients at risk.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the state declared an “mmediate jeopardy” – meaning lives were at imminent risk – on March 4, 2015 at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center. Inspectors found staff using contaminated water and a tainted liquid cleaner dispenser being used to ready medical devices.

The immediate jeopardy ruling was used again three weeks later at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where inspectors found ineffective sterilization and storage of instruments.

Both hospitals quickly fixed the problems. The “immediate jeopardy” was lifted after just hours at UCLA and a day at Cedars. On follow-up visits, the state found the problems had not continued.

Related:

• 3 Died in Southern California Hospital Outbreak Linked to Scopes
• Lawsuit Filed in California Against Scope Maker in Superbug Infection
• Washington Hospital Joins “Superbug” Suit Against Scope Maker
• FDA Warns Medical Device Makers on Superbugs
• Another Los Angeles Hospital Hit by ‘Superbug’ Infections
• New ‘Superbug’ Linked to Scope Found at California Hospital
• FDA: No Clearance for Maker of ‘Superbug’ Outbreak Device

Topics California