Vancouver Coastal Health is warning more than 200 patients after discovering a glitch in cleaning system for Lions Gate Hospital’s surgical tools.
According to the health authority, 225 patients who had surgery between Nov. 9 and 14 were exposed to scalpels, forceps and other instruments that may not have had the usual amount of detergent – but VCH says there is no need to worry.
Lions Gate Hospital technicians discovered four of the pumps that supply the detergent on their industrial washing machine were affected by an electronic malfunction. All of the tools, however, were washed manually with detergent first and following the machine wash, which includes a sterilization process using high heat.
“I do want to emphasize that these instruments were sterilized and disinfected before they were used on patients,” said Gavin Wilson, VCH spokesman. “However, just because we want to be transparent, and in the spirit of full disclosure, we decided we would notify patients whose procedures were affected by this.”
All patients who were exposed to the tools in the operating room, the emergency department and the outpatient clinic will be receiving letters, informing them of the mishap and “sincerely apologizing for any inconvenience or concern this situation may cause.”
The letter also contains contact information in case patients have any followup questions, but the health authority is not recommending anyone get tested or take antibiotics as a precaution.
“There can be more serious cases and there are certainly examples out there where we would be reaching out the patients and saying ‘Go see a doctor. You may need followup testing’ but in this case, the chances of any kind of infection are so infinitesimal, we feel there is no need for them to do that,” Wilson said.
When the mishap was detected, technicians at the hospital recalled any instruments that had been through the malfunctioning washer before they were put into use, Wilson added, so no other patients through the hospital during that period need to worry.
