Over 3,700 patients at surgery facility at risk for HIV and hepatitis: Report
Over 3,700 medical patients may have been exposed to HIV and hepatitis at an ambulatory surgery facility in New Jersey, reports NBC.
Patients of HealthPlus Surgery Center in Saddle Brook, New Jersey could be at risk following what the state’s department of health calls “lapses in infection control.” The time period in question is from January 1st to September 7th of 2018.
An inspection from the department found that HealthPlus staff members were allegedly not using proper sterilization methods. The facility was closed following the inspection and reopened near the end of September following new staff hires, training, and cleaning and repairs to medical equipment according to HealthPlus.
The state’s health department released a statement “Although the risk of infection is low, out of an abundance of caution, HealthPlus and the New Jersey Department of Health recommend patients get blood tests for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.”
According to the health department and HealthPlus, there no illnesses have been reported thus far.
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