Contaminated Bronchoscope Blamed in Death of Pennsylvania Hospital Patient
December 19, 2002
The Allegheny County coroner confirmed Wednesday that a contaminated bronchoscope caused the October death of an Allegheny General Hospital patient. Earl W. Foster, 58, died October 14 from bronchopneumonia caused by a Pseudomonas bacterium that was resistant to antibiotics. Physicians at the hospital reported that the bacterium appeared in Foster's system at a time when he underwent numerous bronchoscopies.
Ten Allegheny General patients were reportedly infected with the Pseudomonas bacterium this fall due to contaminated bronchoscopes. Foster is the only patient believed to have died. Allegheny General replaced all of its bronchoscopes after discovering the contamination problem.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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