Fifty-one gastrointestinal patients at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia may have been exposed to bloodborne viruses due to incorrect infection control processes, according to a Philadelphia Inquirer report.
The hospital notified 51 patients who underwent gastrointestinal procedures between February and March that rinse water for a surgical instrument was reused, which may have exposed patients to viruses that cause Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. The hospital news release states:
"During endoscopic biopsy, sterile fresh forceps are provided for each patient. To preserve the tissue sample, the forceps are immersed in formalin, a fixative solution with disinfecting properties. If additional samples are needed, the forceps are rinsed in water before the next sample is taken. At the end of the procedure, the forceps are discarded.
"There were a few occasions during four weeks in February and March when water used to rinse forceps following endoscopic biopsies was reused rather than discarded. Although fresh, sterile surgical instruments were used on each patient, some rinse water was reused for 51 patients."
The hospital offered free blood tests to affected patients, and of 48 patients who have received their baseline testing, none has shown evidence of infection, according to the report. The hospital is also covering the cost of patients' GI procedures, and will provide free follow-up treatment in the "highly unlikely event" a patient was infected, according to the release.
"As a corrective measure, Jefferson has reviewed infection-control practices and required retraining of all employees in the GI unit," according to the report.
Editor's note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated "a surgical instrument may have been contaminated." The forceps were always sterile, but rinse water was reused. We apologize for the error.
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The hospital notified 51 patients who underwent gastrointestinal procedures between February and March that rinse water for a surgical instrument was reused, which may have exposed patients to viruses that cause Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. The hospital news release states:
"During endoscopic biopsy, sterile fresh forceps are provided for each patient. To preserve the tissue sample, the forceps are immersed in formalin, a fixative solution with disinfecting properties. If additional samples are needed, the forceps are rinsed in water before the next sample is taken. At the end of the procedure, the forceps are discarded.
"There were a few occasions during four weeks in February and March when water used to rinse forceps following endoscopic biopsies was reused rather than discarded. Although fresh, sterile surgical instruments were used on each patient, some rinse water was reused for 51 patients."
The hospital offered free blood tests to affected patients, and of 48 patients who have received their baseline testing, none has shown evidence of infection, according to the report. The hospital is also covering the cost of patients' GI procedures, and will provide free follow-up treatment in the "highly unlikely event" a patient was infected, according to the release.
"As a corrective measure, Jefferson has reviewed infection-control practices and required retraining of all employees in the GI unit," according to the report.
Editor's note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated "a surgical instrument may have been contaminated." The forceps were always sterile, but rinse water was reused. We apologize for the error.
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