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Unsafe IC practices at Nevada clinic put thousands at risk

Infection Control Monitor, March 7, 2008

In the largest public health notification operation in U.S. history, nearly 40,000 people learned this week they may have been exposed to the potentially fatal hepatitis C virus from unsafe practices at a Las Vegas endoscopy center.

State health officials have shut down the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada and five affiliated clinics, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Health officials found the center reused syringes and vials to administer anesthesia for nearly four years, the AP said. Six patients have contracted hepatitis C and officials fear the dangerous practices may have led to an outbreak of the virus and exposed patients to HIV as well.

Along with advising clinic patients to undergo testing for exposure to the viruses, health officials also sent letters to Nevada healthcare providers reminding them of basic infection control precautions. Suggestions included:

• Use a sterile, single use, disposable needle and syringe for each injection
• Do not administer medications from single-dose vials to multiple patients
• Never re-enter a vial with a needle or syringe used on one patient if that vial will be used to withdraw medication for another patient
• Use aseptic technique to avoid contamination of sterile injection equipment and medications

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