Manufacturer: Hospital machines are safe 03/09/2007 00:00

3 September 2007

OSS (ANP) – Steris, the manufacturer of the washing machines used to disinfect medical equipment denies that there is anything wrong with their machines.

Tests however indicated that the washing machines were unable to properly disinfect tubes used for exploratory surgery of the stomach, lungs and intestines.

The Bernhoven hospitals in Oss and Veghel - the first hospitals in the Netherlands to purchase this new type of machines - have meanwhile decommissioned the machines following a technical error.

A statement issued by Steris on Monday says that if the instructions are followed the machines are safe.

The Bernhoven hospitals called in 500 patients for blood tests. The tubes the hospital used  for exploratory operations were not properly disinfected by the washing machines due to a technical error, according to the hospital. There is a slight chance that patients have been infected with a virus.

Other hospitals can continue to use the washing machines, Steris said in statement.  “If trained staff follow the procedures, the machines are safe and the endoscopes are cleaned properly.”

The Bernhoven hospital has not yet established the cause of the incident. The agency representing the manufacturer, the supplier and the hospital are carrying out an investigation. It is not yet known when the outcome of the investigation will be made public.

Bernhoven hospital claims that the mistake is related to the equipment and was not caused by a human error. The hospital stresses that the supplier is responsible.

Until the conclusions of the report are known, it does not seem wise ‘to blame one another’, a spokesperson for the manufacturer said.

The spokesperson also said that the manufacturer’s technicians would not inspect the machines before Tuesday. ‘The conclusions drawn up to now are definitely not based on an inspection of our machines.”

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP]

Subject: Dutch news