Thousands of veterans who underwent certain routine medical procedures at Miami's VA Medical Center since 2004 are at risk of being infected with hepatitis or HIV, The Miami Herald reports.
John Vara, the center's chief of staff, says the risk of infection is low, but that "any risk is unacceptable," the newspaper reports.
It was discovered three weeks ago that some water pumps used during colonoscopies and gastrointestinal procedures were being rinsed but not disinfected, The Herald says. This, Vara says, creates the slight chance that back-flow from the pumps could lead to serious or potentially deadly infections.
The Herald says about 3,260 vets underwent the procedures using this type of pump since May 2004 and that the VA has sent letters to about 2,500 of them, who are still in the area, urging them to get blood tests. The VA is trying to locate the other 700.
The newspaper says patients with concerns may call the Miami VA's call center at 305-575-7256 or 877-577-7256.
The Associated Press reports that last month, more than 6,000 patients at a clinic in Tennessee were told they may have been exposed to infectious body fluids during colonoscopies.
The VA also says 1,800 veterans treated at a clinic in Augusta, Ga., were alerted they could have been exposed to an infection due to improper disinfection of an instrument.
From USAToday
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