Post by katzz on Jul 17, 2007 14:18:10 GMT -5
2,000 People May Have
Contracted Hep C In Oz
From Patricia Doyle, PhD
7-4-7
Hello Jeff -- This same situation is repeated over and over again throughout the world. People contracting HCV because of inadequate infection controls.
We need more infection control, and cannot even rely on control of the 20th century. The 21st century pathogens are "bigger and badder" then ever before. We are faced with resistant bacteria and parasites, diseases like Hepatitis C and prion diseases evade normal neutralization protocols.
I am afraid that we will continue to hear about cases of Hepatitis C infections among people who undergo medical and dental procedures in medical facilities that use inadequate infection control protocols.
Make no mistake, there is NO CURE for Hepatitis C. Health care facilities must do all they can to avoid spreading this virus to their patients.
I can tell you, from my own experience, Hepatitis C is not easily managed and is a terminal illness.
2,000 People May Have Contracted Hep C
(AAP) -- Almost 2,000 people who visited a Sydney medical clinic could be at risk of hepatitis C infection because of inadequate controls at the practice, NSW Health Minister Reba Meagher said.
At least three patients probably contracted hepatitis C because of inadequate infection control at Dr Daniel Hameiri's Double Bay clinic, an investigation has found.
Health Minister Reba Meagher said NSW Health had now notified almost 2,000 patients who attended the clinic and who could be at risk of the blood-borne virus. They are being advised to be tested for hepatitis C as well as hepatitis B and HIV.
The investigation found the spread of the highly infectious virus, detected in three patients in March, had probably occurred as a result of "inadequate infection control practices" at the clinic.
The disease, for which there is no vaccine, can cause liver damage including cirrhosis and liver failure, over a period of many years. All three female patients who contracted the disease had visited the clinic for vitamin or mineral injections. "Although the risk is low we also want to encourage anyone else who has received injections at this clinic to contact their doctor," Ms Meagher said.
Director of Public Health for South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Health Service, Professor Mark Ferson, said during the investigation 300 patients had already been notified to be tested.
Of those, 160 people had been tested with two further patients having been found to have contracted hepatitis C, however Prof Ferson said this may be a coincidence. He said the disease could have been spread at the clinic as easily as a drop of infected blood being on a tourniquet, used to make a vein stand out when giving injections. "That tourniquet might have a drop of blood from someone on it that was infected and then placed over the wound of the next person, that's one of the theoretical possibilities," he said.
Prof Ferson said Dr Hameiri had cooperated fully with the investigation and had closed his clinic for a period of time to upgrade his infection control procedures. His clinic was also inspected prior to re-opening, with infection control knowledge and practice of clinic staff being found to be up to standard.
Director of communicable diseases for NSW Health, Dr Jeremy McAnulty, said GPs had been written to as part of the investigation reminding them of the high importance of infection control. Dr McAnulty said Dr Hameiri had now been referred to the Medical Board and Health Care Complaints Commission, with a further determination to be made by those two bodies.
Patricia A. Doyle DVM, PhD
Bus Admin, Tropical Agricultural Economics
Univ of West Indies
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