Sterilization Breach at Colorado Hospital Put Orthopedic Patients at Risk of HIV, Hepatitis

A sterilization breach at a Denver, Colo.-area hospital may have put orthopedic implant patients at higher risk of contracting HIV or hepatitis, hospital executives and the state Department of Public Health and Environment warn.

Patients most at risk are those who underwent implant or spinal surgery between July 21, 2016 and Feb. 20, 2018, according to a statement from Porter Adventist Hospital, an 88-year-old full service, acute-care referral center specializing in joint replacement, spine surgery, organ transplant, behavioral health, cancer care and cardiac treatments. There have been no reports of infections related to the sterilization breach and the risk of getting human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis is very low, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said. There is also no risk to current patients, the department said.

“The risk of surgical site infection related to this event (aboe the usual risk related to surgery) is unknown,” reads a statement posted on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website from Dr. Larry Wolk, executive director and chief medical officer. “The risk of getting HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C because of this issue is considered very low.”

Hospital officials did not provide many details of the breach that led to the public notice, saying only the process for cleaning surgical instruments after orthopedic and spine surgeries was inadequate and may have compromised instrument sterilization. The hospital notified the state health department of the breach on Feb. 21, and the department conducted an on-site survey of infection control practices the following day. Wolk said a disease control investigation is ongoing; a March 28 visit from the state confirmed that Porter Adventist Hospital’s current infection control practices meet standards. 
 
In his statement, Wolk said Porter Adventist Hospital stopped using and reprocessed all surgical equipment in question on Feb. 20. “While there is always a risk of infection during surgery, it appears there is no increased risk to current patients having surgery at Porter Adventist Hospital because of the infection control breach,” he said.
 
Porter Adventist Hospital mailed letters on April 4 to patients who may have been put at risk. The hospital also has posted a “frequently asked questions” list on its website related to the breach.

Patients who underwent orthopedic or spine surgery at Porter between July 21, 2016 and Feb. 20, 2018 can contact Porter Adventist Hospital.