Patients Notified in Possible Equipment Contamination

Palomar Pomerado Health System has sent letters informing 3,400 patients that they could be at risk of infection because of improperly disinfected endoscopic equipment at the 319-bed Palomar Medical Center in Escondido. The letters recommend that affected patients return to the hospital for no-cost testing. A spokesperson for Palomar Pomerado Health said officials had seen no indication that any patients had contracted infections from the equipment. The hospital has reported the incident to the California Department of Public Health, as required under state law.

• "Hospital Sends Letters to 3,400 Patients About Possible Endoscopic Equipment Contamination" (Clark, HealthLeaders Media, 6/16).
• "Palomar Patients Alerted to Contamination Event" (Lau, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/15).