Close to 1,200 patients who underwent surgery between April 1 and September 30 at Indiana's Goshen Hospital may have been exposed to infectious diseases, according to an article on the WSTB website.
One of the hospital's surgical instrument sterilization technicians failed to complete a necessary step, meaning patients could have been exposed to hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and human immunodeficiency (HIV) virus, health officials said.
The surgical instruments in question were still treated with other usual chemical disinfection and machine sterilization processes which include a wide margin of safety.
But the hospital can't determine if such instruments were completely sterile prior to use.
Elevating EVS Professionals: The Case for Certified Hygiene Specialists
Global Handwashing Day and the Importance of Well-Maintained Restrooms
Duke Health and CaroMont Health Partner to Develop Two New Hospitals
Designing for the Psychology of Waiting
UT Health Sciences Breaks Ground on College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building