On Wednesday, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center said that four patients have been infected with an antibiotic-resistant superbug linked to a type of medical scope.

The incident has taken place two weeks after a similar incident took place at Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center. In the outbreak, seven patients became sick due to a superbug known as CRE after undergoing endoscopic procedures.

Cedars stated that since the time it has come to know about the ULCA outbreak, it has stopped conducting the procedures. The hospital said that it has launched an investigation. As per the hospital, the germ might have been passed from a duodenoscope made by Olympus Corp. during the procedures carried out between late August and January.

Though one patient has died, Cedars affirmed that it was due to a medical condition and is not related to the superbug infection. For now, there is no evidence that shows other patients are at risk. But on precautionary basis, the hospital has been sending home-test kits to 67 more patients, who had undergone the procedure for the diagnosis of pancreatic and bile-duct problems.

The hospital has reported about the latest incident to state and local health departments and also to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In past few years, hospitals in the nation have faced cases of CRE or carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Some of the incidents have been linked to medical scopes made by Olympus and other companies.

The bacteria can lead to infections of the bladder or lungs and in severe cases it can also cause death. Cedars and UCLA said the infections took place even after cleaning the devices as per the manufacturer's standards.

Since the outbreaks have taken place, Cedars and UCLA have adopted more stringent procedures. Cedars said that it has removed the contaminated scope from use.