Two VA dental clinic patients test positive for hepatitis B

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Two VA dental clinic patients test positive for hepatitis B

bsutherly@...

Posted: 04/05/2011 12:00 PM

DAYTON — Two patients seen at the Dayton VA Medical Center’s dental clinic have

confirmed cases of hepatitis B, a spokesman said Monday.

VA officials are unsure if the two patients contracted the disease at the dental

clinic. A clinic dentist failed to follow proper infection control protocols,

potentially exposing at least 535 patients to bloodborne pathogens between

January 1992 and July 2010.

They are the first two confirmed cases linked to the scandal, which has prompted

the reassignment of the medical center’s director and has elected officials

calling for congressional hearings.

Epidemiological testing, which could take months, may or may not determine

whether the clinic was the source of those infections.

The two patients have been notified, VA spokesman Todd Sledge said.

Three other dental clinic patients tested positive for hepatitis C, but the VA

is still determining if those cases may have been false positives.

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http://m.daytondailynews.com/dayton/db_101691/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=6rmT\

OrRc & detailindex=1 & pn=0 & ps=8

Two VA dental clinic patients test positive for hepatitis B

bsutherly@...

Posted: 04/05/2011 12:00 PM

DAYTON — Two patients seen at the Dayton VA Medical Center’s dental clinic have

confirmed cases of hepatitis B, a spokesman said Monday.

VA officials are unsure if the two patients contracted the disease at the dental

clinic. A clinic dentist failed to follow proper infection control protocols,

potentially exposing at least 535 patients to bloodborne pathogens between

January 1992 and July 2010.

They are the first two confirmed cases linked to the scandal, which has prompted

the reassignment of the medical center’s director and has elected officials

calling for congressional hearings.

Epidemiological testing, which could take months, may or may not determine

whether the clinic was the source of those infections.

The two patients have been notified, VA spokesman Todd Sledge said.

Three other dental clinic patients tested positive for hepatitis C, but the VA

is still determining if those cases may have been false positives.