HIV, hepatitis warning issued to 225 Fort McMurray clinic patients

Alberta Health Services is warning 225 patients of a Fort McMurray clinic to get tested for HIV andhepatitis B and C.

Dr. Albert de Villiers, the region's chief medical healthofficer, says the risk of contracting the disease is low, but people
should get tested as a precaution.

"We have been advising them that they have been to a clinic inFort McMurray where there were some issues with sterilization ofmedical equipment and they might have been exposed," de Villierssaid Friday.

"The letter says they may have been exposed, there is very lowrisk, but they should go in for some blood tests to make sure thatthey did not contract any diseases. The three we are testing for arehepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV."

Those being contacted are or were patients of the DayspringMedical and Cosmetic Clinic.

Improper sterilization noted since 2005

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta investigatedthe clinic and determined it was not properly sterilizing equipmentbetween 2005 and the middle of last year.

De Villiers said the clinic is now following proper sterilizationprocedures.

Some of the warning letters sent out two weeks ago have bouncedback because people have moved away, but he said everyone will benotified.

The blood tests that have been completed so far have come backnegative, he said.

In 2008, Alberta Health Services advised up to 1,300 patients toget blood tests because of infection control problems at the HighPrairie Health Complex. An investigation concluded that some staffwere reusing intravenous line syringes.

That same year the College of Physicians and Surgeons beganinspecting medical facilities across the province.

College spokeswoman Kelly Eby said there have been 650inspections since then and there have been seven cases that causedconcern about sterilization procedures. They were reported to publichealth officers and the medical facilities were told to stop reusingimproperly sterilized equipment.

Eby said that, overall, Albertans have no reason to believe thatclinics are not following proper protocol.

"I think it has substantially improved because we have done alot of education and awareness," she said. "We send information tothe clinics before we even get there."