BETHEL — A health care organization in southwest Alaska is offering a second round of free blood tests to dental patients who may have been exposed to infectious diseases after partially sanitized dental tools were used at a clinic in September.<\/p>\n
Thirteen of 191 patients treated over an eight-day period in September are believed to have come in contact with the partially sterilized instruments, KYUK-AM reported Monday.<\/p>\n
The Bethel-based Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation asked those patients to undergo testing for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. The viruses take up to several months to detect after infection.<\/p>\n
About 150 patients chose to get tested last fall. The second round of testing will determine if any new viruses have developed that can be linked to the dental tools.<\/p>\n
State and federal officials have said the risk of infection from the instruments is low.<\/p>\n
Since last year’s mishap, the dental clinic has made changes to ensure all instruments are fully sterilized before being used.<\/p>\n
The dental clinic created four sterilization technician positions and now requires both the dental assistant and the provider to verify that all instruments have been thoroughly sanitized.<\/p>\n
The health corporation is also implementing recent recommendations on its sterilization procedures from a consultant systemwide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"