A surgical instrument used at Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus in Québec has been improperly disinfected since 2017, leading to HIV testing for approximately 40 patients. The issue arose from a screwdriver that was not adequately sterilized during surgical procedures.
The CHU de Québec has reached out to patients who underwent neurosurgeries over the past nine years, as the contamination risk has been assessed as low by infectious disease specialists. Despite this, the hospital is taking no chances.
Jean-Thomas Grantham, a representative from the hospital, stated, “On s’est rendu compte récemment qu’un tournevis très très spécialisé avait une partie qui était démontable au niveau du manche.” This revelation underscores the importance of strict adherence to sterilization protocols.
In response to the potential risk, affected patients have been contacted and advised to undergo blood tests for HIV. Grantham emphasized, “On ne prend pas de chance, on a appelé les patients et on leur a prescrit un dépistage sanguin.” The hospital’s proactive approach aims to alleviate any anxiety among those impacted.
The ongoing investigation will seek to uncover how the disinfection errors occurred. Officials have not disclosed a timeline for when findings will be available. Still, they aim to ensure similar incidents do not happen again.
