The Colorado State Health Department released a statement that a sterilization breach at Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver may have put spinal and orthopedic surgical patients at risk for infection of HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C.  Porter Adventist Hospital has sent letters to patients who had orthopedic or spine surgery between July 21, 2016, and February 20, 2018 that they may have been exposed to HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

“The process for cleaning surgical instruments following orthopedic and spine surgeries was found to be inadequate, which may have compromised the sterilization of the instruments,” the Colorado State Health Department release says.

As of today, there have been no reports of infections related to the breach and the risk of getting human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis is very low, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said. There is also no risk to current patients of Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver, the department said.

According to Porter Adventist Hospital, “we want to assure patients that our team immediately acted to remedy the situation. Recent survey results released by The Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals in the United States, revealed no errors in our process or protocols.”

The Colorado Health Department said it was notified of the breach on February 21, 2018. Spinal and orthopedic surgery patients who may have been affected have been notified by Porter Adventist Hospital.

If you or a loved one received a letter warning you that you may have been affected by this breach at Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver, please call us today or email us for a free case evaluation.  Our firm has successfully handles hundreds of cases of those exposed to Hepatitis C due to the negligence of healthcare providers across the United States.  Call us today at 800-777-4081 to speak to an experienced medical malpractice lawyer.