Patients at Edmonton fertility clinic warned of possible exposure to infection

The government agency says it started notifying 141 patients of the Regional Fertility and Women’s Endocrine Clinic at Royal Alexandra Hospital on Thursday that they could be at “exceedingly low risk of exposure” to blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections. (Photo by Kurt Bauschardt/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0)

EDMONTON — Alberta Health Services is contacting dozens of patients who may have been exposed to infection at the fertility clinic at an Edmonton hospital in mid-November.

The government agency says it started notifying 141 patients of the Regional Fertility and Women’s Endocrine Clinic at Royal Alexandra Hospital on Thursday that they could be at “exceedingly low risk of exposure” to blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections.

AHS says the patients had an endovaginal ultrasound at the clinic between Nov. 14 and Nov. 20, and it became aware of errors on Nov. 20.

Officials say standards for medical device reprocessing were not met, there was inconsistent tracking and recording of the number of reprocessed probes between the two dates, and overscheduling of procedures.

AHS says patients are being notified as officials can’t be certain all practices at the clinic between those dates were conducted, including tracking and recording reprocessed probes, and proper cleaning and disinfection of the probes used.

AHS says those who wish to be tested will be given instructions for blood and/or urine testing to rule out infection.