Fujifilm and Olympus Scope Infection Risks Highlight Growing Need for Advanced Disinfection Systems: Report

Colonoscopy, endoscopy and ERCP infection lawsuits raise concerns about contaminated medical scopes that may expose individuals to dangerous bacteria, even after the devices have been cleaned.

Concerns about dangerous infections linked to reusable medical scopes, including those manufactured by Fujifilm and Olympus, are driving demand for improved disinfection systems as lawsuits raise questions about whether the devices can be adequately cleaned between procedures.

A new report published by IndexBox in October 2026 projects that the global market for advanced medical scope cleaning equipment will grow by approximately 5.8% annually through 2035. The growth is being driven by an increasing number of procedures, stricter infection-control requirements and efforts to replace older cleaning systems.

Medical Scope Infection Risks

Medical scopes are reusable devices equipped with cameras and specialized tools that allow doctors to examine and treat conditions inside the body. They are commonly used during colonoscopies, endoscopies and ERCP procedures, and must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between uses to prevent the spread of dangerous bacteria.

Hospitals often rely on automated cleaning systems to disinfect these instruments, using specialized chemicals and controlled cleaning cycles to reduce the risk of contamination. However, some scopes have complex designs with narrow channels and moving parts that can make certain areas difficult to reach.

These concerns are particularly significant for duodenoscopes used during ERCP procedures, which allow doctors to examine and treat problems involving the bile ducts and pancreas. Their intricate components can trap bacteria and other biological material, potentially allowing contamination to remain even after recommended cleaning procedures are followed.

A number of Olympus endoscope lawsuits allege that design defects allow bacteria, biofilm, tissue and other biological material to accumulate in narrow channels, damaged components and other hard-to-reach areas.

Plaintiffs claim these defects, combined with inadequate safety warnings, have allowed contaminated medical scopes to transmit dangerous infections between individuals, sometimes resulting in sepsis, organ failure or death.

Endoscope Cleaning Systems Report

As concerns continue about the risks of transmitting dangerous infections through reusable medical scopes, hospitals and outpatient facilities are investing in more advanced equipment designed to improve disinfection and reduce the chances of bacterial contamination.

According to the IndexBox report, hospital endoscopy departments account for approximately 45% of the market for advanced scope cleaning systems, reflecting the challenges of safely disinfecting large numbers of instruments used repeatedly throughout the day.

Outpatient surgery centers account for another 25% of demand, as more colonoscopies and other gastrointestinal procedures are performed outside traditional hospitals. Gastroenterology clinics and other specialized medical facilities are also investing in the technology as the number of procedures involving reusable scopes continues to increase.

“As procedure volumes grow, the installed base of endoscopes expands, directly increasing the throughput burden on reprocessing departments and creating demand for additional high-end reprocessor capacity.”

— IndexBox, High-End Endoscopic Reprocessors Market Forecast to 2035: Rising Endoscopy Volumes and Infection Control Mandates Drive Growth

The report indicates that many facilities still rely on older equipment or cleaning methods that require significant manual handling, which can leave room for errors or inconsistencies in how medical scopes are disinfected between procedures.

Newer systems are designed to address those concerns by automatically monitoring disinfectant levels, checking for equipment leaks and documenting whether required cleaning cycles have been completed. Hospitals are increasingly replacing aging equipment with these systems to improve infection control and reduce the risk of contaminated instruments being reused.

However, the findings also highlight a concern raised in medical scope infection lawsuits. While better cleaning technology may help hospitals follow disinfection procedures more consistently, it may not overcome defects in the scopes themselves.

Plaintiffs pursuing lawsuits against Olympus and other manufacturers allege that certain medical scopes contain narrow channels, damaged components and other areas where bacteria can remain trapped, even after recommended cleaning procedures are completed. As a result, they claim hospitals may unknowingly reuse contaminated instruments, exposing individuals to potentially life-threatening infections.

Endoscope Lawsuits

Endoscope infection lawyers are investigating potential claims against Olympus, Fujifilm and other manufacturers on behalf of individuals who suffered serious infections or lost loved ones following an ERCP, colonoscopy, bronchoscopy or other procedure involving a potentially contaminated reusable scope.

Individuals may qualify to pursue compensation if they or a loved one experienced complications following an endoscopic procedure, including:

Potential contaminated scope infection lawsuits are reviewed and pursued on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront expenses for a legal evaluation. Attorneys receive payment only if compensation is recovered through a settlement or other successful resolution.

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