GALVESTON, Texas – The Galveston County Health District and Department of State Health Services are investigating health facilities that potentially spread hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and HIV.
The investigation at Coastal Health and Wellness in Galveston and Texas City was launched after a site review made on Feb. 12 and 13.
Infection control breach news conference underway KPRC2 / Click2Houston
Posted by KPRC2 Andy Cerota on Friday, March 23, 2018
“Poor sterilization, not adequately documenting sterilized dental instruments. Dirty areas that were not properly cleaned where sterile instruments were passing through. Although we have no conclusive evidence at this time that disease transmission has taken place from procedures that were performed at Coastal Health and Wellness, we want to err on the side of caution and offer testing to any patients who could have been impacted,” said Dr. Philip Keiser, Galveston County local health authority.
“Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV are serious medical conditions. People who are infected may not exhibit any symptoms of the disease for many years, so that is why it is important to get tested and treated,” Keiser said.
Hepatitis: What you need to know
Officials said the facilities performed poor dental and medical procedures with unsterilized equipment that may have put patients at risk for hepatitis and HIV.
Officials said patients who received a certain dental and medical procedure at Coastal Health & Wellness clinics from March 1, 2015, to Feb. 13, 2018, are strongly advised to get tested for these viruses.
How could this happen in a setting run by doctors and trained dental professionals?
KPRC 2 asked Dr. Milton Howard, the board chairman for Coastal Health and Wellness. He did not attend the news conference, arriving after it was over.
“They were being sanitized as to proper procedures being carried out step by step,” Howard said.
Click link for complete list of the procedures.
Health officials will also be notifying patients who meet the criteria for testing.
Anyone who has questions or concerns are asked to call the GCHD Investigation Hotline at 409-938-2397.
The testing for patients that may be in risk of the viruses will begin March 26 and end April 13 at the Galveston County Health District Public Office, located at 9850 Emmett F. Lowery Expressway, entrance B in Texas City.
The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners released the following statement:
"The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (“Board”) is the state agency responsible for regulating the practice of dentistry in order to protect the public health and safety and to promote high quality and safe dental care. The Board has 11 Governor-appointed members, including six dentists, three dental hygienists, and two public members.
"The Board licenses dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and dental laboratories, and we create the rules of practice in those areas and discipline licensees when they violate the rules.
"The Board has several regulations related to sanitation and infection control. Most broadly, all persons practicing dentistry in Texas are required to maintain their entire dental office in a clean and sanitary condition in accordance with all state and local health laws, and to use only properly sterilized instruments and clean supplies. Board Rule 108.24 sets out specific requirements for the sterilization and disinfection of instruments that come into contact with patients.
"All instruments and operatory equipment that may have become contaminated with blood, saliva, or tissue debris must be, at a minimum, disinfected and preferably sterilized by CDC or ADA-approved method prior to re-use. All items contaminated by body fluids during patient care must be treated as biohazardous, and all disposable instruments must be disposed of in accordance with OSHA guidelines.
"Dentists are required to check at least weekly that their sterilization equipment is properly functioning and they are required to maintain documentation of those equipment checks. If their sterilization equipment is not functioning properly, they must cease their practice until they can obtain functioning equipment.
"If the Board receives a complaint related to a sanitation violation, we will send an investigator to the dental office and any licensee present must grant the investigator immediate access to the entire office. A licensee who refuses that investigator may have their license immediately suspended on an emergency basis. The investigator will inspect the office, the instruments, and the sanitation equipment and related maintenance logs.
"If the investigation reveals violations, the case will be referred to an informal settlement conference and, if necessary, a formal hearing. Any violation of the Board’s sanitation and infection control rules or other laws or rules referenced therein shall be considered a failure to safeguard the public interest and shall constitute, at a minimum, negligence in the performance of dental services and failure to use proper diligence in the conduct of a dental practice. The Board has a wide array of options for disciplining a licensee who violates the rules.
"Those actions include fines, public reprimands, probationary status, and license suspension and revocation. All of the Board’s disciplinary actions are publically available on our website at www.tsbde.texas.gov and are provided to the National Practitioner Databank and the American Association of Dental Boards.
"The Board investigates cases based on complaints received from the public. Anyone may file a complaint so long as they use the official complaint form and provide their name, the name of the licensee, and sufficient facts about the case for the Board to initiate an investigation. Please note that the Board does not license facilities or dental offices. If you do not know the name of the licensee who treated you, contact the dental office and ask them.
"If they cannot or will not tell you, you may request your patient records and they are required by law to provide them to you within 30 days. The records should have the name of the treating dentist(s) and any other licensed dental professionals.
"In most cases, the Board can figure out who the treating licensee was based on the practice location, but it is always more helpful if you can provide the licensee’s name on the complaint. For more information about filing a complaint, see http://www.tsbde.texas.gov/complaints.html."