11,000 Aussies at risk of HIV, hepatitis: Health authorities
At least 11,000 Australian patients who have visited two dental clinics in Sydney could have been exposed to HIV, according to authorities at the health organization of the state of New South Wales (NSW).
The officials at the NSW Health say that their concern for the possible spread of the infection is because of the poor cleaning and equipment sterilization at the branches of The Gentle Dentist clinic, owned by dentist Samson Chan at Campsie and Sussex Street in the central business district, and the dental practices center of Surry Hills and Bondi Junction, owned by Dr. Robert Starkenburg.
The authorities have also contacted the patients who have visited the clinics over the past 10 years to tell them that they could have been infected with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV.
According to reports, the practicing of at least five dentists – including Dr. Starkenburg and four from the Gentle Dentist clinic – have already been suspended and three other dentists from The Gentle Dentist have had conditions placed on their registration.
Seventy-five-year-old Starkenburg said that he is "very sorry" about what had happened, adding that his age had made it difficult for him to keep up with changing regulations.
"In the last eight years, they have upgraded the protocols a lot," he said, stressing, "I was a little lax on getting the latest protocols ... [but] I have [since then] taken a couple of courses and taken steps to rectify the problem."
The owner of The Gentle Dentist has not made any comments. However, it has been understood that most of the dentists at his clinic are young, with little experience with infection control.
IA/AS/MHB
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