In an attempt to stop patients from being infected by lethal superbugs, federal regulators have approved the first fully disposable duodenoscope, a commonly used medical device. For years, patients have been subjected to reusable duodenoscopes, which hospitals have found extremely difficult to clean. It did not say how much the disposable device would cost. The reusable scopes are priced at about $40,000. Studies have also tied infections to other types of reusable medical scopes, including those used in colonoscopies and to examine lungs.

Source: Los Angeles Times December 16, 2019 23:15 UTC