Veterans to be Tested for HIV and Hepatitis After Improper Sanitization at Medical Clinic

About 1200 military veterans need to undergo testing for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C after personnel at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center discovered that rhinoscopes at an ear nose and throat clinic were improperly sterilized.

The testing involves veterans who underwent procedures in which the rhinoscopes were used at the clinic between January and November, 2008. Officials at the VA center, in Augusta, say the risk of infection is extremely small.

The disinfectant used to clean the scopes during that time period was designed for surfaces such as exam tables, and not one recommended by the rhinoscopes' manufacturer, although chemical activity is similar, according to Dr. John Brice, chief of medicine and acting chief of staff at the medical center.

Doctors use the rhinoscopes to exam sinuses and the upper airway passages of patients.

Brice says an employee was apparently not trained properly on the cleaning procedures. He says the problem began when a nurse at the clinic left, and rapid employee turnover followed. The problem was caught during an annual review of procedures at the clinic. Brice says the center is stepping up training procedures and increasing reviews there to quarterly, at the least. He says an investigation into the matter is ongoing, and that scopes, at this time, are being cleaned at another location.

Brice says the issue was confined to the clinic, and did not happen at the hospital there.

The center is this week sending out letters to the veterans who were possibly exposed to infections.

The VA center has a hotline for the veterans. For more information, call (706) 731-7229 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on weekdays, or (800) 836-5561 after hours.

For more information from the VA, click here.