At least 300 patients have acquired life-threatening infections linked to contaminated medical scopes

— more than previously estimated by federal regulators. Between 2010 and 2015, more than 41 hospitals worldwide, most of them in the U.S., reported bacterial infections linked to the scopes, likely affecting a total of 300 to 350 patients, according to a memo from Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.). Last year, the Food and Drug Administration reported 142 patient infections from medical scopes made by Olympus Corp. and other companies. Lieu’s office obtained the updated figures from the FDA as part of an ongoing probe into “superbug” infections tied to the devices. The FDA came under fire early last year after several outbreaks at hospitals in Los Angeles and Seattle were linked to the scopes.