Public Health Unit Infection Prevention And Control Lapse Report
Initial Report
Premises/Facility Under Investigation
Winchester Medical Clinic
560 Albert Street
Winchester, ON
K0C 2K0
Type of Premises/Facility
Medical clinic
Date Board of Health Became Aware of IPAC Lapse
July 24, 2024
Date IPAC lapse was linked to the premise/facility
July 24, 2024
How the IPAC Lapse was Identified
Complaint
Summary Description of the IPAC Lapse
During the inspection, deficiencies in the reprocessing of medical devices were identified. The autoclave and reprocessing procedures were not documented nor understood by clinic staff. Devices were cleaned with dish soap and water and soaked in 99 alcohol for 1 hour. Items were then placed in a dry heat sterilizer. Items were packaged after sterilization. No biological indicators were noted to be in use. Single use staple removal scissors were reprocessed.
IPAC Lapse Investigation
Issue referred to regulatory college and/or other stakeholder notified?
Yes
If the Lapse Involved a Member of a Regulatory College, Was the Issue Referred to that Regulatory College?
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Were any Corrective Measures Recommended and/or Implemented?
Biological testing performed by the health unit passed. Reprocessing of medical equipment or devices will no longer occur at the clinic. Clinic owner and manager have decided to only use single use disposable medical devices.
Initial Report Comments
Important: Despite the lapse in practice identified, the risk of acquiring a blood borne pathogen with the use of the instruments is extremely low. This was based on the types of instruments potentially used, cleaning practices performed, and the sterilizer passing the biological indicator test.
Final Report
Date of Final Report Posting
August 30, 2024
Brief Description of Corrective Measures Taken
Biological testing performed by the health unit passed. Reprocessing of medical equipment or devices will no longer occur at the clinic. Clinic owner and manager have decided to only use single use disposable medical devices.
Date All Corrective Measures Were Confirmed to Have Been Completed
August 30, 2024
If you have any further questions, please contact:
Genevieve Lord
Program Manager / Gestionnaire de programmes
613-933-1375 x 1233