135 surgical patients exposed to unsterile equipment at Missouri hospital

Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.-based General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital on Feb. 5 confirmed 135 patients were treated with laparoscopy equipment that was not properly sterilized.

Patients who underwent gynecological or general surgery at the hospital from Aug. 1, 2017, to Jan. 26, 2018, may be at risk for infection.

"While the risk of infection is extremely low, we regret that we may cause our patients any concern," said Colonel Christian Meko, GLWACH's commander. "The safety of our patients is always at the forefront of everything we do."

The hospital is working with Army headquarters and The Joint Commission to ensure proper sterilization processes, and retrained staff members on how to decontaminate instruments per manufacturers' guidelines, according to Mr. Meko.

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