Unsterile needles used at Burlington clinic: Health unit

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Halton Region Public Health alerted patients who visited a Burlington walk-in clinic that they may have been exposed to blood-borne infections because of the use of unsterile needles over the span of more than six years.

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The health unit said in a notice Wednesday that appropriate infection prevention and control measures were not followed when using multidose vials at Halton Family Health Centre Walk-in Clinic, which is located at 2951 Walkers Line.

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The notice said this lapse happened “intermittently” between Jan. 1, 2019, and July 17, potentially exposing patients to cross-contamination and transmission of infections.

The needles were used for local anesthetic to freeze patients for stitches, IUD insertions, skin biopsies, removing lumps and joint injections.

The public health unit said patients who visited the clinic during the designated time period should get tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

Halton Region’s medical officer of health, Dr. Deepika Lobo, said the risk of transmission is low, but patients who may have been exposed should get tested as a precautionary measure.

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