Ohio VA hospital: Dentist didn't change gloves between patients

CINCINNATI (AP) — An Ohio veterans hospital says more than 500 dental patients will be offered free screenings to determine if they were infected by a dentist who Veterans Affairs officials say failed to change latex gloves between patients.

The Dayton VA Medical Center said in a statement today that it was notifying at least 535 patients who saw the dentist for invasive dental procedures from 1992 to July 2010. Medical Center Director Guy Richardson says administrative action is pending against the dentist, who was not identified.

Richardson says patients will be tested for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. VA officials would not comment on whether the dentist has been tested for those infections.

The dentist’s failure to change gloves was first reported by the Dayton Daily News.