Superbug Hits Second L.A. Hospital

A second Los Angeles hospital reported Wednesday that its patients have been infected with an antibiotic-resistant superbug after undergoing endoscopic procedures, just two weeks after the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center identified a similar outbreak. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center said it ceased performing the procedure and launched its own investigation into the superbug, known as CRE. One patient died and three have been infected, but Cedars said the death was not related to the infection. Seven patients were infected at UCLA and two have died. CRE, or Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, has become a growing concern for hospitals in connection to medical scopes that are difficult to clean. The bacteria may cause infection of the bladder or lungs and can contribute to death. Both hospitals contend the infections persisted despite meeting cleaning standards and have since enforced stronger disinfection procedures.