Ohio VA hospital: 9 tested positive for hepatitis

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Officials at a Veterans Administration hospital in southwest Ohio say nine patients have tested positive for hepatitis in screenings conducted because of a dentist who failed to change gloves and sterilize instruments properly between patients.

Dayton VA director Guy Richardson says 527 of the 535 people seen by the dentist have been contacted for free screenings.

He tells the Dayton Daily News that of 375 tested so far, there were seven hepatitis C positives and two hepatitis B positives. No one has tested positive for HIV.

Officials say the results are preliminary and further testing will be needed. They also say testing will try to determine whether the infections came from the Dayton VA dental clinic.

An employee raised concerns about the dentist’s gloves last July. The dentist has retired.