The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) says 20 dental patients may have been exposed to viruses because instruments were not sterilized.
The VA is focusing on patients who were treated on May 23 and 27, according to a khon2.com story. The dental instruments were clean, but VA monitors revealed that the instruments were not sterilized.
The Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center dental clinic's standard procedure is to send instruments next door to the Tripler Army Medical Center for sterilization.
An investigation revealed that standard sterilization procedures were not followed on a single load of dental equipment.
Tripler officials said the potential risk to all affected patients is low, but patients have been contacted and will be monitored to check for potential exposure to viruses such as hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV.
