VA investigates unsanitary equipment

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Thousands of veterans are at risk for HIV or Hepatitis after an internal investigation finds they were treated with equipment that was not sanitary.

I-Team 8 looked at the three hospitals under scrutiny and why Indiana veterans appear to be in the clear.

Officials say more than 3,200 patients at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Miami should be tested for HIV, Hepatitis and other diseases after receiving colonoscopies with equipment not properly sterilized.

I-Team 8 has obtained a copy of the letter sent to veterans who underwent the procedure in the last five years warning them to be tested for possible infections.

"At this point we have no data or evidence that anyone has become ill with this, but we feel obligated to notify those veterans who may be at risk," Miami VA Hospital Dr. John Vara said.

The issue is tubing on endoscopic equipment that never made contact with any patient but there could be backflush from a previous patient.

It is the second such announcement of errors during colonoscopies at VA facilities including Murfreesboro Tennessee and and ear nose and throat clinic in Augusta Georgia.

But here in Indianapolis officials at Roudebush have had no reported problems. Still, word of the infections prompted action.

"When things like this come up we validate our practices are where they need to be," Linda Jeffery with the Roudebush VA Medical Center said.

In fact Roudebush claims to have the only certified scope technician in the system.

"We exceed CDC guidelines. We sterilize every scope between every procedure," Jeffery said.

But tubing was the big issue not the scope. Jeffery explained that the tubing was sterilized as well.

Doctors found the error at the other three VA hospitals during a review of procedures mandated by Veterans Affairs. Appropriate changes are already in place.

Again, no problems reported at Roudebush VA Hospital here in Indianapolis. In fact, The certified scope technician from Roudebush was recently called to VA facilities in Michigan and New Mexico to share what they have done right.