OHIO: VA Asked to Expand Testing of Dental Patients to Thousands

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CDC 04-25-11

OHIO: " VA Asked to Expand Testing of Dental Patients to Thousands "

Dayton Daily News (04.22.11):: Ben Sutherly

A regional task force on Thursday asked the Department of Veterans Affairs to

expand its testing parameters in the case of a Dayton VA Medical Center dentist

who potentially exposed patients to blood-borne pathogens.

In its interim report, the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association disagreed

with VA's decision to limit testing to 535 clinic patients on whom the dentist

performed invasive dental procedures from 1992 and July 2010. " We encourage the

Dayton VA Medical Center to test all patients served by the dentist in question

and offer testing to next-of-kin of deceased patients served by the dentist in

question, " said Bucklew, president and CEO of GDAHA.

The dentist, who has retired, failed to change gloves and sterilize equipment

between patients undergoing procedures including crowns, bridges, root canals,

fillings, and removals. The VA has confirmed two patients tested positive for

hepatitis B since receiving services at the Dayton clinic; additional testing to

determine whether those infections are linked to the facility is underway.

In its response late Thursday, the VA defended its handling of the matter. The

VA said its clinical review board determined that the 535 veterans it notified

in February represented the " largest possible risk pool " based on peer-reviewed

scientific literature and hundreds of pages of confidential documents related to

the case.

" VA regrets that the law prohibits us from sharing the information behind our

decision with the GDAHA, and VA values the input of its community partners in

ensuring that veterans receive the best health care anywhere, " an agency

statement said.