Thousands of patients may be exposed to HIV after being prescribed anesthetics
THOUSANDS of patients are at risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis B and C after a doctor allegedly broke infection control rules.
More than 2,400 people may have suffered serious blood-related illnesses while receiving intravenous anesthetic at hospitals across Portland, Oregon, in the United States.
This includes Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, Providence Portland Medical Center and other non-Service hospitals.
Those affected are being contacted and advised to get tested.
Health care provider Providence said in a statement: “We recently learned that Providence’s comprehensive infection control procedures may not have been followed by a physician during some procedures at Portland-area hospitals.
“The doctor was employed by Oregon Anesthesiology Group (OAG), which no longer provides services for Providence.
“The doctor is no longer employed by the OAG.
“This doctor’s actions may put patients at low risk of exposure to potential infections, including hepatitis B and C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).” .”
A spokeswoman confirmed that Providence is notifying “approximately” 2,200 patients seen at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center and two patients seen at Providence Portland Medical Center.
“These patients receive a mailed letter and/or MyChart notification with additional information,” they added.
“If patients do not receive a letter or MyChart notification, no action is required.
“Due to a lot of awareness, we encourage these patients to do a blood test to check for the diseases mentioned above, free of charge.
“If a patient tests positive, Providence will discuss the test results and next steps.
“Patient safety is our number one priority, and our patients have our full commitment to fully investigate this matter and take appropriate action.”
Meanwhile, Legacy Health has warned 211 patients being treated at Legacy Mount Hood Gresham Medical Center that they may also have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other infectious diseases. with blood, reports KGW-TV.
“When we learned of this situation, we immediately suspended the supplier and began a thorough investigation in accordance with our policies and procedures,” it said.
The OAG said it suspended the anesthesiologist, who has not been named, after launching its own investigation, according to reports.
How to spot HIV and hepatitis
HIV
HIV is a virus that destroys your immune system and weakens your ability to fight everyday infections and diseases.
In most cases, it spreads through unprotected sex with an infected person.
Most people will have flu-like symptoms two to six weeks after being infected.
This usually includes a sore throat, fever, and a rash all over the body, lasting one to two weeks.
After this, HIV may not cause any symptoms at all, but the virus continues to damage your immune system.
Some people experience weight loss, night sweats, oral thrush, increased herpes or cold sores, swollen glands in the groin, neck or armpit, chronic diarrhea, and fatigue. .
Although there is no cure for HIV, there are very effective treatments that enable many people with the virus to live long and healthy lives.
Medicines now reduce the amount of the virus in the body to the point where it is undetectable, meaning it cannot be transmitted.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a term used to describe inflammation of the liver – usually the result of a viral infection or liver damage caused by alcohol consumption.
There are several types:
- Hepatitis A (usually contracted by eating food or drink contaminated with the feces of an infected person)
- Hepatitis B (spread in the blood of an infected person)
- Hepatitis C (usually spread through blood-to-blood contact with an infected person)
- Hepatitis D (usually spread through blood-to-blood contact or sex – only affects people who already have hepatitis B)
- Hepatitis E (mainly associated with consumption of raw or undercooked pork or offal, wild pork, beef and shellfish)
- Alcoholic hepatitis (caused by drinking too much alcohol over many years)
- Autoimmune hepatitis (where the immune system attacks and damages the liver)
Chronic hepatitis often has no visible symptoms. But if they develop, they may include:
- Muscle and joint pain
- High temperature
- Feeling sick
- Feeling unusually tired all the time
- A general feeling of malaise
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Dark urine
- Blue cow, blue color
- Itchy skin
- Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
Treatment of hepatitis depends on the type.
Source: NHS and Terrence Higgins Trust
“When we learned that the doctor had violated infection control procedures, we stopped him, notified our partners at Legacy Health and Providence, and began an investigation that resulted in the doctor’s termination,” the group said.
“Although the risk of infection was low, new protocols and procedures have been developed to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
The doctor is understood to have worked at two facilities in Providence between 2017 and 2023, and at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center for six months, starting last December.
The Oregon Health Authority said it is working with Legacy and Providence on their “investigations of violations of infection control procedures”.
So far “OHA or hospitals are not aware of any reports of illness related to this breach of infection control”, it added.
It is unclear how security regulations were breached, but the OHA described the incidents as “unacceptable”.
In general, health care facilities have strict standards for blood work, including how to clean needles and other equipment.
Affected medical facilities
- Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center in Oregon City
- Providence Portland Medical Center in Portland
- Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center in Gresham
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