FDA Issues Alert About Potential Infection Risk

FDA on Thursday issued an alert highlighting the potential risks of infection posed by bronchoscopes, which are used to examine the throat airway or lungs. FDA said it is investigating reports that the reusable devices are leading to infections in patients despite having been cleaned. FDA noted it has reviewed 109 reports it received between January 2010 and June 2015 regarding infections or device contamination related to bronchoscopes.

• "FDA Flags Infection Issue With New Type of Medical Scope" (AP/Washington Times, 9/17).