At least two colonoscopy patients at the VA hospital in Murfreesboro could have been exposed to others’ body fluids because of a procedural error.
As a precaution, the VA has sent letters to 6400 patients who have had colonoscopies at the York campus since April 2003.
Endoscopic tubing used for irrigation is reused after being cleaned and repackaged in Nashville. A one-way valve protects patients from equipment that may not have been properly sterilized. But VA officials say a two-way valve was used at least twice December 1st of 2008. That could have exposed patients to small amounts of fluid left behind from other colonoscopy patients.
Chris Conklin is the spokesperson for the York facility. He says the VA hasn’t ruled out human error or a problem on the manufacturing end. Olympus makes the irrigation tubes and valves.
“We don’t know if it came this way. We don’t know if it happened in house. That’s what we could not determine. It’s not a fact of blame at this time. Our concern is to find out what happened, how we fix it and the safety of our patients.”
The VA is offering free blood work to screen patients for infection. Officials say the risks are minimal.
The VA’s York facility blunder, along with another incident in Augusta, Georgia, has forced national action. VA facilities around the country will review safety and protocol for colonoscopies during the second week of March.
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