Anesthesia contamination leads to hepatitis B and C outbreak

A new report has found that contamination of anesthesia equipment led to a recent outbreak of hepatitis B and C cases, according to findings published in the journal Gastroenterology. Following an unusual increase of both viruses at two gastroenterology clinics, researchers have been making efforts to raise awareness of the importance of proper sterilization of medical tools.

Several patients that visited the centers were administered anesthesia during endoscopies, a procedure that inserts a camera attached to a tube directly into the organ being screened. As a result of the investigation at both clinics, officials discovered that anesthesia contamination was the cause of the outbreaks as opposed to endoscopy contamination, which was also investigated.

Doctors found that all individuals who tested positive for hepatitis B and C contracted the viruses because of repetitive administration with single-use equipment by the anesthesiologist.

The pattern of reusing medical equipment without proper sterilization has many healthcare experts concerned that patients will continue to contract diseases like hepatitis B and C. The investigators have suggested that physicians who diagnose patients with either virus should report results to area health departments.