Sault Ste. Marie doctor's office used improperly sterilized instruments: health unit

Patients of a doctor in Sault Ste. Marie are being encouraged to get tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, after an Algoma Public Health investigation at the office of Dr. E. E Beduhn.

Any patient who had a minor surgical procedure — including removals of superficial skin lesions — is asked to get tested.

Acting Medical Health Officer Dr. Penny Sutcliffe told CBC News certain medical instruments weren't being sterilized properly — and she's not sure what the risk of contracting a disease may be.

"The reason for that is that there are so many unknowns," she said.

"We don't know who was treated with those instruments beforehand, [and] how long those instruments were in the solution before they were used again."

Registered letters will be sent to to anyone who has had procedures after April 1, 1998.

"The instruments were not cleaned in the way they should be cleaned to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and it's appropriate that people be informed and they go for testing."

Sutcliffe noted patients before then may also be at risk and should seek testing.There are no concerns about anyone who went to the doctor's office after Oct. 28 of this year.

The investigation into the matter started as a tip from the doctor's health centre, Sutcliffe said.