FDA Officials Investigate PA Bronchoscopy-Related Death

PITTSBURGH, Pa - According to a report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating contaminated bronchoscopes that have been linked to a patient's recent death at Allegheny General Hospital.

FDA officials join those from the Allegheny County Health Department and Centers for Disease Control in determining how 11 patients showed signs of exposure to Pseudomonas aeruginosa after undergoing bronchoscopy procedures. Of these 11, three reportedly died from other complications. Seven patients remain hospitalized.

The hospital has reportedly since ordered new bronchoscopes and changed sterilization procedures. There is no word if the bacterium was transmitted by a faulty bronchoscope or sterilization system.

Hospital officials are contacting more than 450 patients who had a bronchoscopy from June 1 to Oct. 1.

For more information, visit www.allhealth.edu/agh.