Olympus Releases Statement in Response to US Senate HELP Committee Report

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Jan 13, 2016, 10:53 ET

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., Jan. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Democratic staff of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions released today a report that is an important contribution to understanding the factors underlying reports of patient infections associated with multi-drug resistant organisms such as Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae following Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography procedures. ERCP is most commonly performed to diagnose and treat conditions in the pancreas, bile duct and gallbladder.

Mark A. Miller, Vice President of Corporate and Medical Communications for Olympus Corporation of the Americas, released the following statement in response to the report:

"For the past several months, Olympus has cooperated with the Committee staff by providing numerous documents, answering questions, and conducting a duodenoscope demonstration and briefing for the staff. We appreciate that the staff report noted Olympus' cooperation and that the report demonstrates the shared responsibilities of duodenoscope manufacturers, hospitals, manufacturers of automated endoscope reprocessors, and the Food and Drug Administration, each of which can contribute to increasing patient safety. Although we do not agree with all of the report's conclusions, we are closely reviewing the recommendations in the report as part of Olympus' ongoing efforts to increase patient safety associated with use of Olympus duodenoscopes."

For updates as information becomes available, please visit medical.olympusamerica.com/duodenoscope.

Distributed by Olympus Corporation of the Americas

About Olympus
Olympus is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering innovative solutions in its core business areas of Medical and Surgical Products, Scientific Solutions, and Cameras and Audio Recorders. Through this technology, Olympus focuses on enhancing people's lives every day and helping people enjoy the continuum of life. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.

SOURCE Olympus Corporation of the Americas