WRHA says 17 people exposed to HIV, hepatitis risk - Winnipeg

[Guest guest]

http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2008/11/20/7479046.html

WRHA says 17 people exposed to HIV, hepatitis risk

Doctors say chance of disease very low

By ROSS ROMANIUK, Sun Media

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority is trying to contact 17 people who may

have been exposed to infections because of a nurse's improper use of a

blood-sampling device at a St. Boniface clinic.

The exposure risk of infections possibly including hepatitis B and C occurred

between May 2007 and last month during the nurse's work with a finger-stick

blood-sampling tool, in which the employee cleaned its cap with alcohol between

every use rather than changing the cap as required.

The nurse " did not realize, for whatever reason, that this should be used only

on one patient or given to one patient, " WRHA medical officer Dr. Pierre Plourde

told reporters this afternoon, adding that the incorrect use of the device " was

not observed " by another employee until earlier this fall.

" A co-worker just happened to notice her using it, " Plourde said.

" And then it was taken away immediately. It was removed from use. "

The risk of exposure among any of the patients to a serious infection, Plourde

added, is low and " in the ballpark of one in a million, give or take. "

However, health officials are acting " out of an abundance of caution, " he

explained, in recommending that the 17 clients be tested for hepatitis B,

hepatitis C and HIV.

The WRHA has sent letters to inform them of the mistake, the potential

infections and the recommended follow-up tests, while the Centre de Sante clinic

is also contacting them by phone.

Though Plourde said he's " not aware " of any possible disciplinary measure in

this case, WRHA spokeswoman Heidi Graham suggested that the nurse will not be

penalized.

" This is a nurse who made a mistake. This is not a nurse who did something

deliberately wrong or acted out of malice, " Graham said.

" So discipline would not be an appropriate step to take in this case. "

Plourde gave reporters a demonstration of the proper use of the device -- an

Accu-Chek Multiclix -- on Graham at the WRHA's Carlton Street headquarters.

[Guest guest]

http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2008/11/20/7479046.html

WRHA says 17 people exposed to HIV, hepatitis risk

Doctors say chance of disease very low

By ROSS ROMANIUK, Sun Media

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority is trying to contact 17 people who may

have been exposed to infections because of a nurse's improper use of a

blood-sampling device at a St. Boniface clinic.

The exposure risk of infections possibly including hepatitis B and C occurred

between May 2007 and last month during the nurse's work with a finger-stick

blood-sampling tool, in which the employee cleaned its cap with alcohol between

every use rather than changing the cap as required.

The nurse " did not realize, for whatever reason, that this should be used only

on one patient or given to one patient, " WRHA medical officer Dr. Pierre Plourde

told reporters this afternoon, adding that the incorrect use of the device " was

not observed " by another employee until earlier this fall.

" A co-worker just happened to notice her using it, " Plourde said.

" And then it was taken away immediately. It was removed from use. "

The risk of exposure among any of the patients to a serious infection, Plourde

added, is low and " in the ballpark of one in a million, give or take. "

However, health officials are acting " out of an abundance of caution, " he

explained, in recommending that the 17 clients be tested for hepatitis B,

hepatitis C and HIV.

The WRHA has sent letters to inform them of the mistake, the potential

infections and the recommended follow-up tests, while the Centre de Sante clinic

is also contacting them by phone.

Though Plourde said he's " not aware " of any possible disciplinary measure in

this case, WRHA spokeswoman Heidi Graham suggested that the nurse will not be

penalized.

" This is a nurse who made a mistake. This is not a nurse who did something

deliberately wrong or acted out of malice, " Graham said.

" So discipline would not be an appropriate step to take in this case. "

Plourde gave reporters a demonstration of the proper use of the device -- an

Accu-Chek Multiclix -- on Graham at the WRHA's Carlton Street headquarters.