Piedmont West Surgery Center in Atlanta notified 456 colonoscopy patients that they may be at risk for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV due to incorrectly cleaned scopes, according to a MyFoxAtlanta report.
According to a statement from Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare reported by MyFoxAtlanta, a recent assessment of scope cleaning determined that the last recommended step in the disinfection process — soaking the equipment in a high-level disinfectant — did not occur in some instances at the surgery center beginning in 2011. Piedmont West Surgery Center did clean scopes with enzymatic soap after every use, according to the report.
Piedmont determined the risk of transmission of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV is less than one in 1 million, and no patient has reported a problem, according to the report. Piedmont is offering affected patients free testing and physician counseling.
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According to a statement from Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare reported by MyFoxAtlanta, a recent assessment of scope cleaning determined that the last recommended step in the disinfection process — soaking the equipment in a high-level disinfectant — did not occur in some instances at the surgery center beginning in 2011. Piedmont West Surgery Center did clean scopes with enzymatic soap after every use, according to the report.
Piedmont determined the risk of transmission of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV is less than one in 1 million, and no patient has reported a problem, according to the report. Piedmont is offering affected patients free testing and physician counseling.
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