VA sterilization specialists discovered rusty medical instruments and bacteria in the water intended to sterilize the equipment at the Washington D.C. VA hospital, according to an article on the Task and Purpose website.
The VA facility was reportedly borrowing sterilization supplies from a neighboring private hospital, according to internal reports in November 2017.
The facility in DC is one of 15 VA hospitals with a one-star rating, despite it being a flagship medical care center for the VA.
In March of this year, a report from the VA Office of Inspector General revealed that a “culture of complacency” had allowed problems to persist for years, putting the lives of U.S. veterans in danger.