People walk near the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles building in Los Angeles, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015. A "superbug" outbreak suspected in the deaths of two patients at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles has raised questions about the adequacy of the procedures for disinfecting a medical instrument used on more than a half-million people in the U.S. every year. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
People walk near the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles building in Los Angeles, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015. A “superbug” outbreak suspected in the deaths of two patients at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles has raised questions about the adequacy of the procedures for disinfecting a medical instrument used on more than a half-million people in the U.S. every year. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
(CNN) – You’re due to go in for a medical procedure. But after what happened at a UCLA hospital, you’re a little apprehensive.
Two patients died at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in a superbug CRE outbreak, caused by two medical scopes that still carried the bacteria even after they were disinfected.
In addition to the two victims, seven hospital patients were infected with the deadly superbug between October and January. The medical center has contacted 179 others who had endoscopic procedures between October and January and is offering them home tests to screen for the bacteria.
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