RISK TO PATIENTS FROM SYRINGE RE-USE STATISTICALLY NEGLIGIBLE, NO FURTHER TESTING NEEDED

A province-wide assessment of the risks presented to patients by medical re-use of syringes has concluded that the risk of being infected by a blood-borne virus (BBV) is statistically negligible and that follow-up testing is not required.

The assessment, led by Chief Medical Officer Moira McKinnon and a team of experts, was conducted after the Ministry of Health learned that previously used syringes were occasionally used to administer medication into intravenous lines in five Saskatchewan Health Regions.

"After a thorough review of the details surrounding this syringe re-use, we determined that the risk of BBV infection is one in one million for residents of four of those five communities, and approximately three in one million for the fifth," McKinnon said. "Even the higher of those risks is so low as to make further testing unnecessary."

Syringes were frequently re-used in health-care facilities until late 1997, when newly published Health Canada guidelines advised against the practice. There have been no reported cases of blood-borne virus transmission due to syringe re-use in a Saskatchewan health-care facility.

"I regret any anxiety this situation may have caused Saskatchewan residents, their families or health-care providers," McKinnon said. "We are committed to safe patient care, and to openness and transparency when we believe patient safety may have been compromised."

While no individuals in the affected health regions will be asked to undergo testing for blood-borne viruses, provincial surveillance will be enhanced in order to quickly identify any possible connection between BBV infections and a particular health-care site or facility.

Anyone with questions or concerns about this issue may contact HealthLine at 1-877-800-0002 or view Dr. McKinnon's report at www.health.gov.sk.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Karen Hill
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083