CDC advises hospitals to notify patients, clinicians of potential device-related infection risk

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today warned health care providers and patients about the potential risk of infection from certain devices used during open heart surgery. Stöckert 3T heater-cooler devices, made by LivaNova PLC (formerly Sorin Group Deutschland GmbH), may have been contaminated with Mycobacterium chimaera during manufacturing, CDC said. “It’s important for clinicians and their patients to be aware of this risk so that patients can be evaluated and treated quickly,” said Michael Bell, M.D., deputy director of CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion. “Hospitals should check to see which type of heater-coolers are in use, ensure that they’re maintained according to the latest manufacturer instructions, and alert affected patients and the clinicians who care for them.” For more information, including a CDC Health Advisory and a toolkit for notifying clinicians and patients, visit https://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/heater-cooler.html. The webpage also links to a Food and Drug Administration Safety Alert containing updated recommendations for preventing the spread of infection, and a short video for patients.