Health Canada Recalled Olympus Endoscope Parts — The Risk: Spreading Infections Between Patients

In March 2026, Health Canada — the Canadian equivalent of the FDA — recalled certain Olympus endoscope components because they are no longer compatible with some automated cleaning systems. The concern: when scopes aren't cleaned properly, bacteria and other germs can survive on the equipment and be passed directly to the next patient during a procedure.

What the Recall Says

The Health Canada recall notice identified specific Olympus endoscope components that have become incompatible with certain automated endoscope reprocessors — the machines hospitals use to clean and sterilize scopes between patients. When the scope parts and the cleaning machine aren't fully compatible, cleaning may be incomplete. That creates an opening for bacteria to survive on the scope and be transferred to the next patient who undergoes a procedure.

This is not a minor technical issue. It goes directly to the core safety problem that has driven years of Olympus litigation: the question of whether these scopes can be adequately cleaned and sterilized between uses.

Olympus's History of Scope Infections

Olympus manufactures roughly 85% of all duodenoscopes used in the United States. Between 2013 and 2024, contaminated Olympus scopes have been linked to infections in hundreds of patients at hospitals across the country. At least 35 people are known to have died from those infections.

In 2022, Olympus pleaded guilty to three federal criminal charges related to failing to report serious infection outbreaks to the FDA. The company paid substantial fines as part of that resolution. Despite those penalties, infection reports connected to Olympus scopes have continued to be filed with the FDA's adverse event database through 2026.

As reported in our May 2026 litigation status update, the FDA import alert blocking 58 Olympus device models from entering the U.S. remains in place. The Health Canada recall adds a new layer to the international regulatory picture.

What Procedures Are at Risk

Endoscopic procedures that use the type of equipment covered by Olympus recalls and infection reports include:

• ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) — used to examine the bile duct and pancreas; historically the highest-risk procedure for duodenoscope-linked infections
• Colonoscopy — routine cancer screening, but contaminated scopes pose a patient-to-patient infection risk
• Bronchoscopy — examination of the airways and lungs
• Upper endoscopy (EGD) — examination of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine

Warning Signs Something May Have Gone Wrong

Many people who developed scope-related infections did not connect them to their procedure at the time — symptoms appeared days or weeks later and were treated as separate illnesses. If you had an endoscopic procedure and then experienced any of the following, it may be worth investigating:

• Fever, chills, or sweating in the days after a procedure
• Severe abdominal pain or cramping not explained by the procedure itself
• Being told you had an antibiotic-resistant infection (CRE, MRSA, Pseudomonas, or similar)
• Extended or repeated hospitalizations following what was supposed to be a routine endoscopy
• Sepsis or bloodstream infection diagnosed after a scope procedure

Why This Matters for U.S. Patients

Health Canada's recall involves the same Olympus equipment used in U.S. hospitals. The cleaning compatibility problem identified in Canada reflects the same design and reprocessing challenges that underlie U.S. litigation. While the Canadian recall does not directly create legal rights for U.S. patients, it reinforces the evidentiary record that these scopes present an ongoing cleaning risk across different health systems and regulatory environments.

In April 2026, a Canadian law firm filed a class proceeding in Quebec on behalf of patients harmed by Olympus scope procedures. That action, combined with the Health Canada recall, signals that international scrutiny of Olympus's cleaning-compatibility issues is growing — not shrinking.

Who May Have a Case in the U.S.

You may qualify for a free case review if:

• You had an endoscopic procedure — ERCP, colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, or upper endoscopy — at a hospital in the United States
• You developed a serious infection in the days or weeks following that procedure
• Your infection was caused by CRE, MRSA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or another antibiotic-resistant bacteria
• Your infection required hospitalization, extended treatment, or caused lasting health problems
• A family member died from an infection traced back to an endoscopic procedure

We represent patients nationwide, regardless of where their procedure occurred. Your state's statute of limitations — the deadline to file — does not pause while new recalls and regulatory actions accumulate. If you have questions, now is the time to ask them.

Free case review. No Fees Unless We Recover Money for You.

Sources

• Health Canada — Medical Device Recall Notice, certain Olympus endoscope components, March 2026. recalls-rappels.canada.ca
• Drugwatch — "Olympus Duodenoscope Lawsuit" (updated 2026). drugwatch.com
• U.S. Senate HELP Committee — "Preventable Tragedies: Superbugs and How Ineffective Monitoring of Medical Device Safety Fails Patients," 2016 (foundational report on duodenoscope outbreaks and manufacturer reporting failures).
• U.S. Department of Justice — "Olympus Corporation of the Americas Pleads Guilty to Three Counts of Failing to Report to the FDA," 2022.
• Siskinds LLP — "Class action pursued over infection risks linked to endoscope devices," April 2026, Quebec. siskinds.com
• U.S. FDA MAUDE Adverse Event Database — reports involving Olympus endoscope models. accessdata.fda.gov