More than 3000 Patients Possibly Exposed to HIV and Hepatitis At New Jersey Surgical Center Official
A New Jersey surgical center may have exposed more than 3,000 patients to HIV and hepatitis, state officials said. People who received a procedure at the HealthPlus Surgery Center in Saddle Brook, New Jersey between Jan. 1 and Sept. 7 have been requested to take a blood test for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C after "deficiencies in infection control" in the medical center's cleaning and medication injection processes put them at risk. No infections or illnesses have been reported so far, HealthPlus Surgery Center administrator Betty McCabe said in a statement. Even so, health officials recommend patients get tested as soon as they can. So far, 3,778 patients have been asked to take a test. According to the statement, the New Jersey Department of Health closed down the surgical center in September after finding that employees were not adhering to proper sterile processing procedures or regulations around dispensing and storing medication. The center reopened on Sept. 28. "We have taken this issue very seriously," McCabe said. "The New Jersey Department of Health's move to close the facility provided an opportunity to focus more intently on quality, safety and a consistent adherence to sound policies and procedures."