FDA issues duodenoscope safety recommendations 

Health care facilities that still use fixed endcap duodenoscopes, which are no longer marketed in the U.S., should complete their transition to newer models that have disposable components or are fully disposable, which emerging data suggest can lower infection risks, the Food and Drug Administration recommended this week. FDA has cleared seven duodenoscopes with disposable components that facilitate reprocessing or are fully disposable, and some manufacturers are offering replacement programs to upgrade to a model with a disposable component at no cost, the agency notes.