Saint Francis patients notified of potential virus exposure

Ten patients have received a letter from Saint Francis Medical Center warning they were possibly exposed to blood-borne pathogens.

The letter, dated Sept. 30, says the potential exposure was the result of some instruments not receiving the final phase of the cleaning process. The letter says the pathogens could have been different forms of hepatitis and HIV.

"We are sending you this letter because you had a surgical procedure at our facility between Aug. 5, 2014, and Aug. 29, 2014," says a copy of one letter obtained by the Southeast Missourian. "During this time, some instruments that could have been used during your recent surgery did not receive the last phase of the cleaning process that required the use of pressurized steam. As a result, you may have been exposed to blood borne pathogens (germs)."

The letter said it was unlikely any pathogens survived the cleaning process and once the problem was discovered, the cleaning process was immediately corrected. Felicia Blanton, marketing director for Saint Francis, said in an email that the event was limited to only 10 patients, all of whom were notified.

Each patient was asked to get precautionary tests for the hepatitis C and B viruses and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to detect any potential exposure.

"Several of the 10 patients have already completed their initial follow-up lab tests, with no exposure found," Blanton said. "We cannot speak specifically to any patient care matter, as this falls under the patient privacy protection of HIPAA."

Tests for the viruses are done in weekly and monthly intervals, and the letter from Saint Francis says it would work with patients "in every way possible" to help with the process. Arrangements were made for the patients to have free blood testing done at the Saint Francis Regional Lab on the facility's main campus in Cape Girardeau, at no cost and with no appointment necessary.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities says sterilization "destroys all microorganisms on the surface of an article or in a fluid to prevent disease transmission associated with the use of that item." Steam, or autoclave sterilization, is the most common method of instrument sterilization.

The guideline says inadequately sterilized tools do increase the risk of transmitting pathogens, but documented transmission of pathogens associated with inadequately sterilized tools is exceedingly rare.

"This is likely due to the wide margin of safety associated with the sterilization processes used in health-care facilities," the CDC guideline says.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

211 Saint Francis Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.