FDA intiates measures to reduce risks from inadequate 'reprocessing' of reusable medical devices

Some medical devices are reused many times in surgical and exploratory procedures. They include instruments used in surgery (like clamps and forceps), and endoscopes (like bronchoscopes and colonoscopes) used to visualize areas inside the body.

FDA has received reports of patient exposure to microscopic amounts of blood, body fluids, and tissue from other patients that may have occurred because the reusable devices were inadequately "reprocessed" and these contaminants were not removed. (Reprocessing means cleaning and high-level disinfection or sterilization.) Transmission of infection was extremely rare, but the potential was there.

The agency is working with manufacturers and healthcare providers to reduce the risk of infection from the inadequate "reprocessing" of these durable devices designed for repeated use.