Longview, Wash.-based PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center is notifying 260 patients who underwent fittings for dental implants as they may have been exposed to HIV and hepatitis B and C, according to tdn.com.
Here are four takeaways:
1. The hospital is notifying patients who were fitted for dental appliances for sleep apnea between Nov. 18, 2013 and Feb. 26, 2016.
2. The possible exposure is due to staff possibly skipping some steps in the sterilization process when cleaning instruments for the procedures.
3. Although staff soaked the equipment in an antimicrobial solution, they may have not mechanically scrubbed the equipment.
4. Chief Administrative Officer Kirk Raboin said the risk of infection is "extremely low," and no patients have tested positive.
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