Board Says Doctor Admitted He Reused Biopsy Needle Guides - Latest Infection Risk Case Spurs Alert

[Guest guest]

CDC 03-21-11

NEVADA: " Board Says Doctor Admitted He Reused Biopsy Needle Guides "

Las Vegas Review-Journal (03.17.11):: Harasim

The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners (BME) recently suspended a doctor

for allegedly reusing needle guides during prostate and rectal biopsies. Needle

guides are the plastic sheaths through which needles are directed to obtain

biopsy material, and the single-use devices regularly contact blood and body

fluids.

In the suspension of Dr. Kaplan's license, BME said that the doctor

called for the guides to be washed between patients undergoing the invasive

procedures and discarded only when they became " too bloody. " The motive behind

Kaplan's directive is not yet known. The devices cost about $10 apiece. Kaplan

acknowledged to BME and Food and Drug Administration investigators " he had

reused the endocavity needle guides during biopsy procedures, " the suspension

order states.

Patients who had biopsies performed by Kaplan between Dec. 20, 2010, and March

11, 2011, could be at risk of blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C,

said Dr. Lawrence Sands, chief health officer of the Southern Nevada Health

District. SNHD officials will issue a formal notification once patients have

been identified and recommendations are finalized. In the meantime, affected

patients should speak with their physician about their concerns, said

Bethel, a district spokesperson.

Five people are searching through patient records " to see who has to be

notified, " said Doug , BME's executive director. " We're doing it as fast

as we can so the health district can notify patients, " he said.

BME cannot divulge how the alleged practice first came to its attention,

" because that source will probably be helping us with the investigation down the

line, " said. To date, no cases of disease transmission have been linked

to the lapse in infection control.

NEVADA:: " Latest Infection Risk Case Spurs Alert "

Las Vegas Review-Journal (03.18.11):: Harasim

The Nevada State Health Division has issued a technical bulletin to remind

health care providers not to reuse single-use endocavity needle guides during

prostate biopsies. The bulletin follows the suspension of a southern Nevada

physician's license for allegedly routinely reusing the guides between patients.

Reuse of the guides on more than one patient " places the health, safety, and

welfare of the public at risk for blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis B,

hepatitis C and HIV, " the notice said.

The notice recommends that health care providers " review their policies and

educate their staff regarding the use of single-use-only medical devices. " " The

thorough cleaning of single-use medical devices with the use of hot water,

scrubbing off blood and tissue matter soaked in Cidex [sterilizing solution] is

not acceptable in any circumstance or situation. "

For the full advisory, visit:

http://health.nv.gov/Epidemiology/2011-03_NeedleGuideTechnicalBulletin.pdf.

[Guest guest]

CDC 03-21-11

NEVADA: " Board Says Doctor Admitted He Reused Biopsy Needle Guides "

Las Vegas Review-Journal (03.17.11):: Harasim

The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners (BME) recently suspended a doctor

for allegedly reusing needle guides during prostate and rectal biopsies. Needle

guides are the plastic sheaths through which needles are directed to obtain

biopsy material, and the single-use devices regularly contact blood and body

fluids.

In the suspension of Dr. Kaplan's license, BME said that the doctor

called for the guides to be washed between patients undergoing the invasive

procedures and discarded only when they became " too bloody. " The motive behind

Kaplan's directive is not yet known. The devices cost about $10 apiece. Kaplan

acknowledged to BME and Food and Drug Administration investigators " he had

reused the endocavity needle guides during biopsy procedures, " the suspension

order states.

Patients who had biopsies performed by Kaplan between Dec. 20, 2010, and March

11, 2011, could be at risk of blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C,

said Dr. Lawrence Sands, chief health officer of the Southern Nevada Health

District. SNHD officials will issue a formal notification once patients have

been identified and recommendations are finalized. In the meantime, affected

patients should speak with their physician about their concerns, said

Bethel, a district spokesperson.

Five people are searching through patient records " to see who has to be

notified, " said Doug , BME's executive director. " We're doing it as fast

as we can so the health district can notify patients, " he said.

BME cannot divulge how the alleged practice first came to its attention,

" because that source will probably be helping us with the investigation down the

line, " said. To date, no cases of disease transmission have been linked

to the lapse in infection control.

NEVADA:: " Latest Infection Risk Case Spurs Alert "

Las Vegas Review-Journal (03.18.11):: Harasim

The Nevada State Health Division has issued a technical bulletin to remind

health care providers not to reuse single-use endocavity needle guides during

prostate biopsies. The bulletin follows the suspension of a southern Nevada

physician's license for allegedly routinely reusing the guides between patients.

Reuse of the guides on more than one patient " places the health, safety, and

welfare of the public at risk for blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis B,

hepatitis C and HIV, " the notice said.

The notice recommends that health care providers " review their policies and

educate their staff regarding the use of single-use-only medical devices. " " The

thorough cleaning of single-use medical devices with the use of hot water,

scrubbing off blood and tissue matter soaked in Cidex [sterilizing solution] is

not acceptable in any circumstance or situation. "

For the full advisory, visit:

http://health.nv.gov/Epidemiology/2011-03_NeedleGuideTechnicalBulletin.pdf.

[Guest guest]

CDC 03-21-11

NEVADA: " Board Says Doctor Admitted He Reused Biopsy Needle Guides "

Las Vegas Review-Journal (03.17.11):: Harasim

The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners (BME) recently suspended a doctor

for allegedly reusing needle guides during prostate and rectal biopsies. Needle

guides are the plastic sheaths through which needles are directed to obtain

biopsy material, and the single-use devices regularly contact blood and body

fluids.

In the suspension of Dr. Kaplan's license, BME said that the doctor

called for the guides to be washed between patients undergoing the invasive

procedures and discarded only when they became " too bloody. " The motive behind

Kaplan's directive is not yet known. The devices cost about $10 apiece. Kaplan

acknowledged to BME and Food and Drug Administration investigators " he had

reused the endocavity needle guides during biopsy procedures, " the suspension

order states.

Patients who had biopsies performed by Kaplan between Dec. 20, 2010, and March

11, 2011, could be at risk of blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C,

said Dr. Lawrence Sands, chief health officer of the Southern Nevada Health

District. SNHD officials will issue a formal notification once patients have

been identified and recommendations are finalized. In the meantime, affected

patients should speak with their physician about their concerns, said

Bethel, a district spokesperson.

Five people are searching through patient records " to see who has to be

notified, " said Doug , BME's executive director. " We're doing it as fast

as we can so the health district can notify patients, " he said.

BME cannot divulge how the alleged practice first came to its attention,

" because that source will probably be helping us with the investigation down the

line, " said. To date, no cases of disease transmission have been linked

to the lapse in infection control.

NEVADA:: " Latest Infection Risk Case Spurs Alert "

Las Vegas Review-Journal (03.18.11):: Harasim

The Nevada State Health Division has issued a technical bulletin to remind

health care providers not to reuse single-use endocavity needle guides during

prostate biopsies. The bulletin follows the suspension of a southern Nevada

physician's license for allegedly routinely reusing the guides between patients.

Reuse of the guides on more than one patient " places the health, safety, and

welfare of the public at risk for blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis B,

hepatitis C and HIV, " the notice said.

The notice recommends that health care providers " review their policies and

educate their staff regarding the use of single-use-only medical devices. " " The

thorough cleaning of single-use medical devices with the use of hot water,

scrubbing off blood and tissue matter soaked in Cidex [sterilizing solution] is

not acceptable in any circumstance or situation. "

For the full advisory, visit:

http://health.nv.gov/Epidemiology/2011-03_NeedleGuideTechnicalBulletin.pdf.

[Guest guest]

CDC 03-21-11

NEVADA: " Board Says Doctor Admitted He Reused Biopsy Needle Guides "

Las Vegas Review-Journal (03.17.11):: Harasim

The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners (BME) recently suspended a doctor

for allegedly reusing needle guides during prostate and rectal biopsies. Needle

guides are the plastic sheaths through which needles are directed to obtain

biopsy material, and the single-use devices regularly contact blood and body

fluids.

In the suspension of Dr. Kaplan's license, BME said that the doctor

called for the guides to be washed between patients undergoing the invasive

procedures and discarded only when they became " too bloody. " The motive behind

Kaplan's directive is not yet known. The devices cost about $10 apiece. Kaplan

acknowledged to BME and Food and Drug Administration investigators " he had

reused the endocavity needle guides during biopsy procedures, " the suspension

order states.

Patients who had biopsies performed by Kaplan between Dec. 20, 2010, and March

11, 2011, could be at risk of blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C,

said Dr. Lawrence Sands, chief health officer of the Southern Nevada Health

District. SNHD officials will issue a formal notification once patients have

been identified and recommendations are finalized. In the meantime, affected

patients should speak with their physician about their concerns, said

Bethel, a district spokesperson.

Five people are searching through patient records " to see who has to be

notified, " said Doug , BME's executive director. " We're doing it as fast

as we can so the health district can notify patients, " he said.

BME cannot divulge how the alleged practice first came to its attention,

" because that source will probably be helping us with the investigation down the

line, " said. To date, no cases of disease transmission have been linked

to the lapse in infection control.

NEVADA:: " Latest Infection Risk Case Spurs Alert "

Las Vegas Review-Journal (03.18.11):: Harasim

The Nevada State Health Division has issued a technical bulletin to remind

health care providers not to reuse single-use endocavity needle guides during

prostate biopsies. The bulletin follows the suspension of a southern Nevada

physician's license for allegedly routinely reusing the guides between patients.

Reuse of the guides on more than one patient " places the health, safety, and

welfare of the public at risk for blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis B,

hepatitis C and HIV, " the notice said.

The notice recommends that health care providers " review their policies and

educate their staff regarding the use of single-use-only medical devices. " " The

thorough cleaning of single-use medical devices with the use of hot water,

scrubbing off blood and tissue matter soaked in Cidex [sterilizing solution] is

not acceptable in any circumstance or situation. "

For the full advisory, visit:

http://health.nv.gov/Epidemiology/2011-03_NeedleGuideTechnicalBulletin.pdf.