FDA issues letter to healthcare providers on risks of endoscope connectors

Editor's Note

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on April 18 alerted healthcare providers and facilities about the risk of cross-contamination with 24-hour, multipatient use connectors used in gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy.

Endoscope connectors are small accessories used to connect the auxiliary water channel to a water source and irrigation tubing. To mitigate the risk of cross-contamination, the FDA recommends the use of connectors that prevent patient fluids from flowing backwards into the endoscope.

One manufacturer, Erbe USA Inc, markets a 24-hour, multipatient use endoscope connector (ERBEFLO port connector) that does not include a backflow prevention feature.

To date, the FDA has not received acceptable testing to demonstrate the safe use of these products and recommends against their use.