Improper sterilization practices at medical device manufacturers and hospitals blamed for rise in infections among patients.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/ac
According to an investigation by the SonntagsZeitung and Le Matin Dimanche papers, contaminated medical devices could be responsible for infections of patients with dangerous bacteria like Mycobacteria chimaera. Around 12 patients in Switzerland have been infected out of around 100 cases worldwide. Infections have been linked to the use of contaminated heating-cooler units found in cardiopulmonary bypass machines.
Between 2005 and 2018, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic) carried out 690 recalls of non-sterile medical devices, an average of five warnings per month. These concerned 70 different implants and 65 models of cardiac catheters.
It is not just manufacturers that have been implicated. Hospital practices surrounding sterilization of medical equipment have also been questioned. The investigation revealed that four Swiss hospitals were reprimanded by Swissmedic in 2018: Aarau Cantonal Hospital, the Zurich Children’s Hospital, the Hirslanden Clinic in Zurich and the Yverdon Hospital. All reports, based on inspections carried out in 2016, flagged up deficiencies in the disinfection of equipment.
Violations include improper sterilization and storage of endoscope equipment after use and lack of validation of the efficacity of cleaning equipment and agents. The hospitals were not fined but were only ordered to pay administrative costs between CHF1,200 to CHF9,200 depending on how long they took to implement remedial measures.
Between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2017, more than 57,000 cases of infection were reported in Switzerland following operations in 168 hospitals, according to the latest reports from the National Association for Quality Development in Hospitals and Clinics (ANQ) and Swissnoso, the national centre for infection control.
More
More
Swiss implant makers come under the microscope
This content was published on
The Implant Files on faulty implants and weak safety standards are raising alarm bells for Switzerland’s rapidly growing medical device industry.
This content was published on
Swiss public broadcasters RTS and SRF are drastically reducing their communications via the social network X (formerly Twitter).
Israel: president of Swiss universities rejects academic boycott
This content was published on
Luciana Vaccaro, president of Swissuniversities, the umbrella group of Swiss universities, is not in favour of an academic boycott of Israeli universities.
First large-scale alpine solar plant approved in Switzerland
This content was published on
The approval was met with satisfaction by the project's organisers, but it also brings with it a certain amount of pressure.
Medieval squirrels may have ‘helped spread leprosy’
This content was published on
An examination of squirrel remains in the United Kingdom has opened up interesting questions and possibilities in terms of the history of the disease.
This content was published on
It has been two years since Switzerland launched a campaign to lower the infection rate, and, as a report reveals, work still needs to be done.
This content was published on
Multidrug-resistant gut bacteria called vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are on the rise in Swiss hospitals. The strains are identical to those causing infections in Australia and New Zealand.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.