649 patients recalled due to possible blood contamination

The Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven calls 649 patients back for blood tests, because the proper hygiene guidelines have not been followed during dental cleaning. That makes the hospital Tuesday known in a call.

This concerns patients who were treated after January 2014. In the hospital, a so-called ultrasonic tip was used to vibrate loose tartar. This can cause the gums to bleed. In between treatments, the ultrasonic tip is only cleaned with alcohol and not by heating, which should be in accordance with the guidelines.

Patients who have been informed by letter will be checked for hepatitis B, C and HIV. According to a spokesman for the hospital, the risk of infection is very low, because it is an instrument that uses a lot of water during treatment, the gums do not always bleed and the viruses occur relatively little in the Netherlands. This means that the risk is low, but not zero.

The hospital has decided not to carry out oral hygiene treatments in the future and to refer patients for this to the dentist.

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