Longview, Wash.-based PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center warned 260 patients of a potential infection risk earlier this month, and nearly 200 of those patients have come in for blood tests, according to a TDN report.
Patients who were fitted with dental appliances for sleep apnea from Nov. 18, 2013 to Feb. 26, 2016, were notified via mail this month that they could be at risk for HIV and hepatitis B and C. The hospital offered these patients free blood tests.
According to TDN, an internal review of infection control procedures found a step in the sterilization process may have been skipped.
"The likelihood of infection is extremely low," said Kirk Raboin, PeaceHealth St. John's chief administrative officer. "Still, we are acting with an abundance of caution because our highest priority is the health and safety of our patients."
So far, none of the tested patients have received HIV-positive or hepatitis-positive results, according to TDN.