Infection prevention and control lapse at Woodstock specialist office
Media Release
October 25, 2022
Southwestern Public Health reports infection prevention and control lapse at Woodstock based specialist office
Patients most at-risk of an infection as of the result of the lapse in IPAC practices will shortly receive a personal letter recommending testing
In September, following a complaint from the public, Southwestern Public Health conducted an inspection of the Obstetrics and Gynecology clinic of Dr. D. Snider, a specialist practicing at 716 Dundas Street in Woodstock.
The results of the investigation are available on the health unit's website. The IPAC Lapse Report outlines lapses in provincially mandated infection prevention and control practices specifically related to the sterilization of medical instruments. Improperly sterilized medical instruments raise the risk of the transmission of blood borne infections such as hepatitis b, hepatitis c, or HIV, in medical settings.
“At this time, we have not received evidence that disease transmission has occurred. Following the investigation, my initial assessment is that the risk of acquiring such an infection from improperly sterilized medical equipment in this setting is anticipated to be very low. As a precaution, however, I recommend that patients who had certain medical procedures at this clinic between January 1, 2020 to September 12, 2022 get tested,” says Dr. Ninh Tran, Medical Officer of Health for the region.
Over the coming days, Dr. Snider’s impacted patients will be notified with a letter to their home address. Anyone who believes they may have been affected can learn more at www.swpublichealth.ca/sniderpatients.
“Dr. Snider is working closely with our public health unit, actively participating in the investigation process, supporting the notification of patients, and making the required changes to his IPAC practices,” says Dr. Tran. “Since our visit in September, for example, he has switched to disposable medical instruments.”
Under Ontario legislation, if a public health unit receives a complaint about an “infection prevention and control” practice within a facility in which a registered health professional operates, it is the facility’s responsibility to follow up with an investigation of that complaint. The results of such investigations must be disclosed publicly and findings must also be shared with appropriate regulatory bodies (in this case, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario). It is also the responsibility of local public health units to communicate with the professionals and facilities named in the complaint, any federal or provincial agencies providing oversight or support, and/or the public if necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the risk? |
Medical tools that are not cleaned and sterilized according to provincial standards can spread infectious diseases such as hepatitis b, hepatitis c and to a lesser extent HIV. |
Who is at risk? |
Patients of Dr. Snider who visited his clinic at 716 Dundas Street, Woodstock between January 1, 2020 and September 12, 2022. In particular those who had specific procedure such as: IUD insertion and removal, endometrial biopsy, endocervical polyp removal, vaginal examination with speculum, vulvar biopsy, pap test, pessary fittings. |
What should I do? |
We know that getting news like this is very stressful. It is important for you to know that this is not an emergency, and the risk is very low. At this time, we do not have any evidence that disease transmission has occurred. For your own peace of mind, however, you may choose to get a blood test for hepatitis b and c and HIV. Please do not go to the emergency department. Instead, follow the steps below. |
Where and how do I get tested? |
If you received a letter from Dr. Snider because you had a higher risk procedure in his office, lab testing information will be included in your letter. If you want to discuss your risk and/or your need for testing, please reach out to your primary care provider (doctor or nurse practitioner). Search for your nearest lab. |
Does anyone else in my home need to be tested? |
No, not right now. If you test positive for a blood borne infection such as HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C, a public health professional will call you with next steps for you and your household. |
Will I only need one test, or do I have to retest again in the future? |
If your last procedure at this health care office was six months ago or more, you only need to have your blood tested once to rule out infection. Because it can take time for infection to “show up” on test results, if your procedure was:
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How do I get my test results? |
Test results will go to Dr. Snider as he is the ordering health care provider. If you test positive, however, you will get a phone call from Southwestern Public Health. Public health will ONLY have positive test results, and we will call you with them. Please note that if you currently live outside of the region, you will be contacted by your local public health unit if you test positive. |
What if I get a positive test result? |
A blood test would confirm if you are infected with any of the viruses being tested. However, testing cannot tell you where, when, or how you became infected with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV.
The treatment of viruses like hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infections has advanced significantly in recent years and in many cases can be treated to prevent further health consequences with early diagnosis. If your test result is positive, public health will call you to tell you and together with your health care provider will support you with next steps including more testing, treatment, and follow-up. |
I really need to talk so someone in public health. |
Please complete this form and a member of our team will call you back as soon as possible. You can also leave a message at 1-800-922-0096 x 5000. We can not give you information specific to individual risks or experience, but our team will listen and provide basic information. If you have specific questions about your own situation, please contact your health care provider. Please be patient, we are anticipating a high volume of calls. |
What is public health's role in an IPAC lapse investigation in a facility in which regulated health care professionals work? |
If a public health unit receives a complaint about an “infection prevention and control” practice within one of these facilities, it is our responsibility to follow up with an investigation of that complaint. We then must publicly disclose the results of our investigation, and report our findings to the appropriate regulatory bodies (like a professional college). It is also our responsibility to communicate with the professionals and facilities named in the complaint, any federal or provincial agencies providing oversight or support and/or the public if necessary. |
Have any other health agencies or professional organizations been notified? |
Yes. We have consulted with Public Health Ontario, and informed both the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Health about this investigation and our findings. |
Do you routinely inspect the offices of medical specialists? |
No. Local public health units are not provincially mandated to routinely inspect offices and clinics run by regulated health professionals. Instead, their professional college (in this case the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons) is the governing body responsible for setting the infection prevention and control standards and making sure those standards are followed. The investigation took place because we received a complaint about the facility. |
Why is Dr. Snider still practicing? |
Dr. Snider maintains his license to practice medicine in Ontario. Southwestern Public Health has provided details of our IPAC lapse investigation to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). The CPSO regulates the practice of medicine in Ontario. Physicians are required to be members to practice medicine in Ontario. CPSO has a legislated mandate to ensure quality care is provided by physicians and investigates complaints from the public. For more information about CPSO’s role in regulating and licensing physicians please visit https://www.cpso.on.ca/en/About/What-we-do |