Hundreds of Veterans at Risk for HIV From Dirty Dentist Tools, VA Admits
VA says more than 1,800 vets got dental care from dentists' using unclean tools.
July 1, 2010— -- Officials in Washington promise a full investigation and disciplinary action after they admitted that more than 1,800 veterans in the St. Louis area were put at risk for HIV and other diseases from dental tools that had not been properly cleaned between patients.
The 1,812 veterans who received dental care at the St. Louis VA Medical Center at the John Cochran Division between Februrary 2009 and March 11, 2010, were sent letters this week, telling them of the sanitation mistake and offering free testing for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
The state's federal lawmakers were furious that Missouri's veterans were exposed to such a serious threat for such a long time.
"This isn't just one person who didn't do their job right," U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., told ABCNews.com today. "Certainly this is an outrageous situation that's occurred and been allowed to occur over a period of time."
According to an information sheet released to veterans from the VA Medical Center, the center was found -- during a routine, unnanncouned visit -- to have failed to clean dental handpieces with a specialized detergent before they were sterilized.
"VA officials acknowledge there were missed opportunities to uncover the problem sooner," the notice read.
According to a timeline provided by the VA, the discovery was made in early March. Dentistry services were suspended for about three weeks while officials investigated and ordered the retraining of staff, along with a redesign of the procedure for cleaning dental equipment.
Akin was one of several angry lawmakers who sent letters to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki.
In his letter, Akin blasted the St. Louis VA Medical Center's response for the failure that "a growing number of veterans have been utilizing dental services and that the organization simply got 'too busy.'"
In the June 29 letter, Akin noted that a similar error of this magnitude in the private sector would lead to the discipline and even dismissal of those deemed responsible.
"I trust that the staff and management of John Cochran are held to no less a standard," he wrote.
