FDA: Don’t Use Certain Multi-patient Endoscope Connectors

Health care providers should not use endoscope connectors labeled for use without reprocessing between patients because they carry a risk of cross-contamination, the Food and Drug Administration announced today. “To date, the FDA has not received acceptable testing to demonstrate the safe use of these products, and recommends against their use,” the agency said. FDA recommends that health care providers and staff at facilities performing endoscopy use single-use or reusable connectors with backflow prevention features, and reprocess reusable connectors as instructed before each patient procedure. The agency encourages providers and patients to report adverse events or side effects related to 24-hour multi-patient use connectors, currently made only by Erbe USA Inc., to the MedWatch program.