A sanitation problem with endoscopy equipment at University Hospital of Northern BC has put several patients at potential risk.
Northern Health addressed the issue earlier on Wednesday, and Dr. Ronald Chapman spoke about an issue found with one of three stages of equipment cleaning.
“What we discovered, was that there was procedure a that did not meet manufacturer’s guidelines, and we wanted to ensure that it is fixed immediately,” he says.
Chapman says staff were not using the proper length of time to flush out and air the equipment, but that it has been rectified with additional re-education of guidelines.
Northern Health mentioned the risk of blood-borne viruses as a potential complication of the error, and says while the risk is exceptionally low, endoscopy patients who received treatment from 2012 to December 2014 are being notified via letter – with the Centre for Disease Control and physicians advised.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
