Potential HIV and Hepatitis Exposure in Oregon Hospitals Due to Improper Anesthesia Administration

Approximately 2,400 individuals treated in Oregon hospitals may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis, or other blood-borne infections due to the improper administration of anesthesia by an anesthesiologist.

Providence, a healthcare system operating in several states, issued a public statement on July 11th, notifying the public of this potential HIV and hepatitis exposure risk.

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"We recently learned that Providence's comprehensive infection control practices may not have been followed by a physician during certain procedures at Portland-area hospitals," the statement reads. The hospitals implicated include Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center and Providence Portland Medical Center. Providence is in the process of notifying "approximately 2,200 patients" who were treated at the former facility and two patients treated at the latter facility of this potential risk.

Potential HIV and Hepatitis Exposure at Legacy Health

Additionally, the same physician practiced at a Legacy Health hospital, Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center. "We are in the process of sending letters notifying 221 patients who may have been impacted," a Legacy spokesperson shared in a statement emailed to Live Science.

The physician in question was an anesthesiologist employed by Oregon Anesthesiology Group(OAG), which collaborates with hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers in western Oregon.

"When we learned that the physician had violated infection control practices, we suspended him, informed our partners at Legacy Health and Providence, and then initiated an investigation that culminated in the physician's termination," an OAG spokesperson communicated to Live Science in an email. "Even though the risk of infection was low, new protocols and procedures have been implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future."

The name of the physician has not been disclosed, as reported by the Associated Press (AP).

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The actions of this anesthesiologist have placed patients at "low risk" of exposure to various blood-borne diseases, including HIV and hepatitis B and C, according to Providence representatives. The AP report indicates that the provider was affiliated with Providence between 2017 and 2023.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we are encouraging these patients to undergo blood tests to screen for the aforementioned infections, at no cost," Providence stated. Any patients testing positive will be notified and informed of possible subsequent steps.

Legacy Health emphasized that "this was an isolated situation involving a single provider." The anesthesiologist was contracted to work at the Legacy facility for approximately six months, beginning in December 2023.

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The statements from the healthcare systems do not specify how their safety protocols were violated. However, the Oregon Health Authority informed the AP that the investigation focused on an anesthesiologist who administered intravenous anesthesia and engaged in "unacceptable" infection control practices while doing so.

Generally, healthcare facilities adhere to strict standards for sanitizing needles, syringes, and other equipment before use on each patient, and a single needle and syringe should never be reused for multiple individuals.

News Source:- livescience.com