Three foot care clinics suspended after infection prevention breach

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has suspended three foot care clinics after multiple breaches were identified.

Essex Community Services (ECS) operates the three clinics one at the Essex Community Service location, and others at the Harrow Arena Community Room and McGregor Community Centre.

The health unit received a complaint on June 12. Aninvestigation revealed breaches in infection prevention and control practices related to cleaning, reprocessing and handling of equipment.

WECHU also saysthere was inadequate knowledge of infection control best practices.

According to WECHU, the risk of infection is very low but recommends clients who have received services from those clinicsto see a doctor.

The risks rangefrom localized skin irritation to more serious infections such as hepatitis B and C and HIV.

According to ECS, the Harrow clinic will remain closed indefinitely. All clients will be accommodated at the Essex location moving forward.

"Our staff and nurses are working closely together to bring our clinic up to standards without causing too much of an interruption orinconvenience to our clients," said ECS, adding that they are cooperating with WECHUand Public Health Ontario to make the necessary changes forthe safety of both clients and nurses.

WECHUsays additional clinics, which are currently being investigated, could also be added to the suspension list.