9 Ohio veterans test positive for hepatitis

[Guest guest]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/02/ohio.veterans.dentist/

9 Ohio veterans test positive for hepatitis

By Nina Golgowski, CNN

March 2, 2011 9:07 p.m. EST

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Hepatitis tests for hundreds follow dental treatment

VA dentist voluntarily retires

Dentist admitted to not washing hands or changing gloves between patients during

18-year period

New York (CNN) -- Nine Ohio veterans have tested positive for hepatitis after

undergoing routine dental work at a Dayton clinic, according to Ohio Veterans

Affairs Communications Officer Todd Sledge.

After a dentist at the Dayton VA Medical Center admitted to not washing his

hands or changing gloves between patients during an 18-year period, 375 veterans

were tested for hepatitis and HIV.

Seven of the 375 have since tested positive for Hepatitis C and two for

Hepatitis B, according to Sledge. Test results are not complete.

The clinic had said all necessary care and treatment will be provided free to a

veteran, should they test positive. Sledge had said the clinic is taking full

accountability.

Dentist Dwight Pemberton voluntarily retired on February 11. No additional

information on other employees involved in the case has been released, according

to Sledge.

With Pemberton's retirement, he no longer faces administrative action by the

clinic, Sledge said.

Last year the clinic closed for a month for " re-education on infection control

standards " for the staff. Veterans could still receive care at other facilities

found through the medical center, Sledge said.

The center is taking an " ongoing in-depth look at a lot of aspects surrounding

the allegations, " Sledge said. " When someone brings those things to your

attention, you need to review what practices are happening. "

More information and a list of labs in contractual agreement with the Dayton

center is available by calling the VA's hotline at 1-877-424-8214.

CNN's Tina Burnside contributed to this report

[Guest guest]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/02/ohio.veterans.dentist/

9 Ohio veterans test positive for hepatitis

By Nina Golgowski, CNN

March 2, 2011 9:07 p.m. EST

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Hepatitis tests for hundreds follow dental treatment

VA dentist voluntarily retires

Dentist admitted to not washing hands or changing gloves between patients during

18-year period

New York (CNN) -- Nine Ohio veterans have tested positive for hepatitis after

undergoing routine dental work at a Dayton clinic, according to Ohio Veterans

Affairs Communications Officer Todd Sledge.

After a dentist at the Dayton VA Medical Center admitted to not washing his

hands or changing gloves between patients during an 18-year period, 375 veterans

were tested for hepatitis and HIV.

Seven of the 375 have since tested positive for Hepatitis C and two for

Hepatitis B, according to Sledge. Test results are not complete.

The clinic had said all necessary care and treatment will be provided free to a

veteran, should they test positive. Sledge had said the clinic is taking full

accountability.

Dentist Dwight Pemberton voluntarily retired on February 11. No additional

information on other employees involved in the case has been released, according

to Sledge.

With Pemberton's retirement, he no longer faces administrative action by the

clinic, Sledge said.

Last year the clinic closed for a month for " re-education on infection control

standards " for the staff. Veterans could still receive care at other facilities

found through the medical center, Sledge said.

The center is taking an " ongoing in-depth look at a lot of aspects surrounding

the allegations, " Sledge said. " When someone brings those things to your

attention, you need to review what practices are happening. "

More information and a list of labs in contractual agreement with the Dayton

center is available by calling the VA's hotline at 1-877-424-8214.

CNN's Tina Burnside contributed to this report