Allina patients notified of risk due to reused syringes

Published 10:00 pm Tuesday, March 6, 2018

ST. PAUL — Allina Health has notified dozens of patients at St. Paul dermatology clinic that they might want to be tested for HIV or hepatitis because a nurse practitioner had been reusing syringes.

Allina spokesman David Kanihan said the risk of infection is extremely low — less than one percent. But, the tests were offered out of an abundance of caution. Allina notified 161 patients about the infection risk. The health care provider said the syringes, but not the needles, were reused by the nurse practitioner from October to February.

Allina said they don’t know why the employee, who has been fired, did not follow protocol.

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