Veterans test positive for hepatitis, were exposed to unclean instruments at VA Hospital

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http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=209587 & catid=9

Veterans test positive for hepatitis, were exposed to unclean instruments at VA

Hospital

By Mike Owens

St. Louis, MO (KSDK) -- The Veteran's Administration admitted that three

patients who were treated in the Cochran Dental Clinic contracted either

hepatitis B, hepatitis C or even HIV.

A fourth veteran also tested positive, but the VA said later Friday that that

veteran was infected before Feb. 1, 2009.

The patients were tested for the viruses after they were treated at the clinic

on North Grand between February 2009 and March 2010, when proper cleaning

protocols were not being used. The VA says staff in the dental clinic did not

property sanitize dental instruments, but they were sterilized in a separate

process.

A total of 1,812 patients were urged to get tested for the hepatitis or HIV,

because of the safety lapses, which the VA attributed to employees who did not

want to send the dental tools through a washing machine, which they felt dulled

them. Instead, they washed the tools by hand, and then sent them to be

sanitized, a breach of protocol.

VA managers said they would be transparent throughout the process of testing

veterans and helping them deal with the outcome.

However, VA spokespersons in St. Louis refer all questions about the infections

to headquarters in Washington, and the Washington folks are referring all our

questions to the statement issued today, which is posted on the VA's website.

Also asking questions is Congressman Russ Carnahan, who has pushed the VA hard

with regard to the safety lapses. Now, the congressman is concerned the VA has

been slow to notify the infected patients.

Carnahan says there were delays between the time the infected patients were

identified and the time they were notified. He adds that infected patients may

not have taken proper precautions with their loved ones while they waited for

final results.

About 100 patients are still awaiting results of blood tests, while the VA says

they are now checking medical records to see if those four infected were given

the viruses from the clinic or somewhere else.

On Thursday, Carnahan announced that the Inspector General of the VA has agreed

to launch an official investigation into the Cochran matter; the Government

Accountability Office (GAO) - the " watchdog " arm of Congress - is broadening the

scope of an existing investigation into sanitization procedures at several VA

facilities across the country to include Cochran.

Veterans and family members who may have further questions or concerns are urged

to contact Congressman Russ Carnahan's office at 314-962-1523.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

KSDK