Thousands affected by improperly cleaned equipment at Stittsville clinic
Posted Jul 17, 2018 02:34:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Patients of the Main Street Family Medical Centre in Stittsville may have been exposed to improperly cleaned medical equipment, over the last 15 years.
At a news conference Tuesday morning, Ottawa Public Health said the risk is low but affects about 4,600 patients who underwent some minor surgical procedures at the clinic between December of 2003 and April 25, 2018.
The procedures that may have resulted in exposure to improperly cleaned equipment include: removal of a skin tag, mole, etc., using a blade; biopsies; drainage or packing of an abscess or cyst; sutures/staples or their removal; foreign body removal or removal of an ingrown nail.
Receiving vaccines, having blood drawn, pap tests, swabs, or removal of skin tags and moles by freezing at the Main Street Family Medical Centre are not causes for concern, according to OPH.
All affected patients will be notified by mail, urging them to get tested for Hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV.
An investigation began at the clinic back on on April 24, after a member of the public complained about a lack of cleanliness in the facility. An inspection then revealed that medical equipment was not being properly cleaned by more than one staff member. On April 25, OPH directed the clinic to stop performing all minor surgical procedures until further notice.
OPH said there is no ongoing risk to patients being treated at the clinic, and there are no reports of any infections so far.
