BRISTOL, England, Jun 1, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- British health officials say
the risk of infection from a dentist's unsanitary instruments is low, but they
still want to alert thousands of patients.
The Daily Mail reported Monday that patients in Bournemouth and Bristol would be
getting letters informing them there was a potential for infection, not the
least of which includes human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis.
The concerns stem from instruments that may not have been properly sterilized.
"We want to reassure them by offering them the opportunity to discuss
the matter with a healthcare professional and have a blood test if they
wish," said Dr. Chris Payne, director of public health at National Health
Systems in South Gloucestershire.
The newspaper said the alert involved a dentist, whose name was not released,
who practiced at an office in Bristol between 2003 and 2007 and then moved to
Bournemouth last year.
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