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At least 1,000 Covenant Health patients may have been exposed to hepatitis B and C, the organization revealed on Wednesday. Possible exposure was during insulin training sessions in Edmonton between 2013 and 2016.
Updated:
More than 1,300 Covenant Health patients being treated for diabetes may have been exposed to hepatitis B and C during insulin training sessions, the organization revealed on Wednesday.
The health agency has mailed letters to a total of 1,307 patients who may be at risk due to “an infection control breach” at the Grey Nuns and Misericordia hospitals between 2013 and early 2016, Covenant Health officials said.
The breach relates to saline-filled demonstration pens and pillows used during the practice sessions where patients with diabetes or gestational diabetes take part in one-on-one lessons on the use of insulin pens.
Though the needles were changed between each use and were never shared between patients, the saline reservoirs may not have been changed properly, officials said in a news release. The “practice pillows” may also have been shared between patients.
The “incorrect training practice” was stopped as soon as it was discovered, Dr. Owen Heisler, chief medical officer for Covenant Health told a news conference at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Mill Woods.
“We saw what it was and we stopped it,” said Heisler. “The health and well-being of our patients is our top priority. We believe we have a responsibility to notify our patients of this risk, even though it is very low.”
The risk to patients is considered “very low.” As precaution, all patients will be tested for both strains of the virus. Children born to pregnant women who were exposed do not require testing, Heisler said.
The notification applies to patients with diabetes or gestational diabetes who received insulin training at the Grey Nuns education centre between May 2014 and Feb. 19, 2016, or at the Misericordia between May 2014 and Feb. 19, 2016.
Covenant Health and AHS conducted separate investigations on the breach.