North. HIV, hepatitis: 4,200 patients must be tested after a risk of infection at the dentist
Thousands of patients at the Maubeuge Hospital Dental Center (North) are being tested for HIV, hepatitis B, and C following a failure to sterilize certain dental instruments. However, experts consider the risk of contamination to be minimal.
Those affected have received a letter and are invited to contact their doctor. Illustrative photo Sipa/Adil Benayache
Thousands of patients are in anguish after receiving a letter from the dental practice at the Maubeuge Hospital (Nord). The document, sent to 4,200 people, urges them to get tested for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C due to the risk of contamination following their visit to the dental practice.
"An inspection conducted by the Hauts-de-France Regional Health Agency (ARS) revealed deficiencies in the sterilization of certain instruments used for dental procedures. This lack of sterilization could have led to a risk of transmission of certain viruses," reads the letter we were able to consult.
“My dental work was done two years ago.”Karine is one of those who received this letter: "My dental work was done two years ago at the old hospital. I'm going to go to my doctor to see what he thinks, and if necessary, I'll have the tests done. I'd rather have them done for nothing than not at all. We can't even get proper treatment anymore," the patient fumed on Facebook.
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The risk of contamination is considered "minimal." "It is 0.003% for HIV, 0.005% for HCV, and 0.3% for HBV," assures the Maubeuge hospital center, quoted by our colleagues at La Voix du Nord . But those concerned are invited to contact their doctor and get tested as a safety measure - screenings are covered by health insurance.
What happened? Last January, the ARS conducted an inspection of the facility and found that the dynamic instrument holders were disinfected, "but not sterilized," explains La Voix du Nord . "We've been doing it like that for years," defends Cyril Lenne, the director of the Maubeuge hospital center, to our colleagues.
The fact remains that the procedure was not followed, which is now leading the ARS to contact the dental center's patients. Since then, the sterilization circuit has been "immediately" reviewed, the letter states. An information center (03 27 69 44 80) has been set up.
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