A dentist in Kingston, Ontario, is working with Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health to contact patients about a potential risk of bloodborne infection. Patients of Dr. K. Luco Dentistry Professional Corporation who received treatment between January 1, 2010, and January 16, 2019, are advised to discuss testing for bloodborne infections, specifically hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, with their healthcare provider.
On January 15, 2019, KFL&A Public Health received a complaint from a member of the public about infection prevention and control practices at the practice. The agency investigated the complaint on January 16 and found that there were times when proper cleaning and proper sterilization of dental instruments did not occur. Improperly cleaned and improperly sterilized instruments can spread infectious disease such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.
KFL&A Public Health is not aware of any cases of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV transmission at the dental clinic and believes the risk of infection at the clinic is low.
“While the risk of infection at this clinic is believed to be low, the risk to an individual patient depends on the frequency and type of procedures that were performed. As such, KFL&A Public Health recommends that all patients who had a procedure at this dental clinic during the above noted dates make an appointment with their healthcare provider to discuss testing,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, medical officer of health, KFL&A Public Health.
Immediately following the inspection, KFL&A Public Health issued an order to close the clinic and provided it with a list of requirements for compliance as per the Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC) standards. After the final inspection on February 4, 2019, KFL&A Public Health said the clinic met PIDAC standards and lifted its closure order. KFL&A Public Health then mailed letters to patients on Tuesday, February 12.
The list of patients who have been mailed a letter is based on patient contact information provided to KFL&A Public Health by the dental clinic. Patients during the specified time period who have not received a letter are advised to visit kflaph.ca/ipaclapse to download and print the letter, a laboratory requisition, and a letter for their healthcare providers. More information about the lapse and its potential infections also is available at that website.
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