Urgent Health Alert: Thousands of Sydney Dental Patients Urged to Get Tested for Blood-Borne Viruses
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Patients of a dental practice in southern Sydney are being advised to undergo testing for blood-borne viruses, including HIV, following concerns over potential exposure due to inadequate sterilization procedures. The practice, formerly operated by Safuan Hasic, also known as Steven Hasic, located at 70 Victoria Avenue in Mortdale, has been closed and its operator barred from practicing dentistry.
Authorities in New South Wales (NSW) believe that dental work performed by Mr. Hasic over an unspecified period may have put “in the several thousands” of former and current patients at risk of contracting serious infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. The Dental Council of NSW has suspended Mr. Hasic’s registration pending further investigation.
Infection Control Breaches Identified
The public health alert was triggered by a patient complaint and subsequent audit of the practice. According to Vicky Sheppeard, Director of the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit, inspectors discovered significant hygiene breaches. “We found instruments that were ready to be used on other patients that appeared to be dirty and were lying in places in the dental room where there could be contamination from other patients,” Dr. Sheppeard explained. “If one patient had a blood-borne virus then a subsequent patient could be exposed to that virus.”
Despite the findings, Dr. Sheppeard emphasized that the risk to patients remains “low.” However, she cautioned that blood-borne viruses can remain undetected for years, making testing crucial. “People who are infected with blood-borne viruses may not show symptoms for years, so it is important to be tested to see if there is a silent infection,” she stated.
Dentist Denies Allegations
Mr. Hasic, who graduated from the University of Sydney’s dental school in 1982, vehemently denies the allegations. Speaking to the ABC, he “absolutely rejected” claims of improper sterilization. He asserted, “No patient has ever come back to us with any blood-borne viruses.”
Mr. Hasic attributed the current situation to a complaint lodged over three years ago, which led to conditions being placed on his practice requiring further training. He admitted to not fully completing the required training but maintained he intended to upgrade his equipment after a recent inspection by the Dental Council of NSW. “I feel this is a gross injustice, it’s only because bureaucracy is risk adverse,” he said.
Challenges in Patient Contact
A significant challenge facing health authorities is contacting potentially affected patients. Records were maintained on paper cards, meaning a large proportion of individuals who visited the practice remain unidentified. Authorities have only been able to identify a small number of patients thus far.
The NSW Health Department is urging anyone who received dental treatment from Mr. Hasic to contact their general practitioner to discuss testing options. While no patients have been diagnosed with blood-borne viruses as a result of treatment at the practice to date, the potential for delayed symptom onset underscores the importance of proactive testing.
Mr. Hasic is known for his charitable work within the Bosnian and Croatian communities, as highlighted in a University of Sydney newsletter. However, the immediate priority remains ensuring the health and well-being of all individuals who may have been exposed to risk at his Mortdale practice.
