Dr William Tam alert urges thousands to test for viruses
NSW Health on Wednesday urged all former patients of retired Sydney dentist dr william tam to see their GP for testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV after an audit raised infection control concerns at his Strathfield practice.
The alert covers thousands of people who may have been treated over more than 25 years at Albert Road in Sydney's inner-west. Dr Leena Gupta said there are no records that can be used to contact those patients directly.
Albert Road in Strathfield
Tam practised at Albert Road in Strathfield and is now retired and no longer a registered dentist. The Dental Council of NSW audit found concerns about infection control practices and patient record keeping, which triggered the public health alert.
Dr Zeina Najjar said an audit in April identified inadequate sterilisation of equipment and poor cleaning. She said auditors could not confidently identify all potentially affected individuals because of poor record keeping.
Dr Leena Gupta on testing
Gupta, the clinical director of public health for the Sydney Local Health District, said: "The poor infection control practices at Dr Tam’s practice means all former patients may be at low risk of a blood-borne virus infection, which can have serious and long-lasting health impacts". She also said: "As a precaution, we are asking all of Dr Tam’s previous patients to seek testing for blood-borne viruses."
She added: "So it is important that people at risk of these infections are tested, so that they can access treatment as appropriate. There are effective treatments available for all three conditions."
April audit findings
Najjar, a staff specialist in public health for the Sydney Local Health District, said: "For this reason, concerns were raised for blood-borne virus transmission," after the April audit found inadequate sterilisation and poor cleaning. She said none of the patients have been diagnosed with a blood-borne virus.
Former patients who were treated at the practice are being told to seek testing now, rather than wait for contact that health authorities cannot make because of the record-keeping gaps. The advice is specific to the three infections named in the alert and comes after concerns were raised through the Dental Council process.
