Infection prevention and control lapse at Hamilton primary care clinic - Patient testing recommendations

HAMILTON, ON - June 28, 2017 -An infection prevention and control inspection by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) resulted in a referral to City of Hamilton Public Health Services for follow-up investigation. Findings of the inspections by the CPSO and Public Health Services, and Public Health Services investigation identified the risk that patients who received minor office-based surgical procedures at Dr. Lorin Harding’s offices in Hamilton may have been exposed to improperly cleaned instruments used for procedures. Examples of minor office-based surgical procedures include the removal of skin tags, warts, moles and cysts or biopsies of skin cancers.

Dr. Harding has offered these types of procedures from November 1979 to December 2005 at 399 Greenhill Ave, Hamilton and from December 2005 to June 8, 2017 at 631 Queenston Road, Hamilton. As a precaution, City of Hamilton Public Health Services recommends that individuals who received minor office-based surgical procedures performed by Dr. Harding to contact their primary care provider (family physician, nurse practitioner or walk-in clinic) to discuss testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 

“Infection Prevention and Control procedures when applied consistently in health care settings can prevent the transmission of infectious disease. Improperly cleaned equipment carries a risk of transmitting infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and to a lesser extent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to patients. The investigation into this infection prevention and control lapse suggests the risk of infectious disease transmission is low. As a precaution, we recommend that all patients who have undergone minor in office surgical procedures at either of Dr. Lorin Harding’s past or present locations to contact their primary care provider or go to a walk-in clinic to discuss testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ”

Dr. Jessica Hopkins
Associate Medical Officer of Health

On June 16, 2017 City of Hamilton Public Health Services was notified by the CPSO of a primary care clinic in Hamilton that was inspected and found to have inadequate infection prevention and control practices related to cleaning and sterilization of instruments used for minor office-based surgical procedures.  Investigation by Public Health Services determined that the prior lapses in infection prevention and control potentially exposed patients who had undergone minor office based surgical procedures at the physician’s offices (the current Queenston Road Clinic and the physician’s previous Greenhill Avenue clinic location) to the risk of infection with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and to a lesser extent HIV. The purpose of this release is to notify potentially exposed patients of recommended testing. The investigation into this infection prevention and control lapse suggests the risk of infectious disease transmission is low. Corrective action has been taken and the physician now meets the required infection prevention and control standards as of June 26, 2017.

For more information related to the infection prevention and control investigation please visit www.hamilton.ca/publichealth or contact City of Hamilton Public Health Services Infectious Diseases program by calling 905-546-2489.

Additional Resources

June 2017 Infection Prevention and Control lapse at Hamilton Clinic patient recommendations and resources
City of Hamilton Public Health Services Infection Prevention and Control Lapse