Infection Control Information Available

As you may already know, media reports alleging that patients may have contracted Hepatitis C at an endoscopy clinic in Nevada have been broadcast widely. The local health department alleges that patient exposure occurred because the health care facility used a sterile needle and syringe to withdraw medication from a vial and then used a new needle but the same syringe to withdraw more medication for the same patient. Later, using a clean needle and syringe, the clinic withdrew additional medication from the same vial to inject in another patient.

Patients visiting your ASC may be asking questions about syringe reuse because of all the media coverage. In addition, a fact sheet on this topic is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/PS_SyringeReuseFS.html. We encourage you to review this document so that you are prepared to answer your patients' questions.