Patients Exposed to HIV & Hepatitis at NJ Surgical Center

Patients Exposed to HIV & Hepatitis at NJ Surgical Center

by | Jan 5, 2019 | Accident Cases, Contagious Disease

When Mahogany Clifton had a work accident and injured her shoulder, she never thought that she would be at an attorney’s office talking about a lawsuit against the surgical center her doctor chose to do a routine shoulder surgery to fix a shoulder tear.  Mahogany Clifton, however, was one of the persons at a Press Conference who was potentially exposed to the HIV and the Hepatitis virus at the HealthPlus Surgery Center in Saddlebrook NJ. To be clear, Mahogany Clifton has not yet undergone blood testing for HIV or Hepatitis, but her anxiety over the potential for either infection showed in her face at the Press Conference.

Department of Health Inspection & Immediate Closure

The Department of Health of New Jersey shut down the Health Plus Surgical Center located at 190 Midland Avenue, Saddle Brook on September 7, 2018, after an inspection on that day found unacceptable sterilization practices, poor drug storage methods, and an outdated infection control plan among other violations.  One particular egregious sterilization violation was the improper use of drug vials for more than one patient which could spread a virus if the vial is contaminated and then used for another patient. Another was the improper use of sterilization oven by overcrowding and not allowing the instruments to cool (part of the sterilization procedure) which would result in surgical instruments not being sterilized.

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Confirmed Case of Measles at Newark Airport

by | Jan 14, 2018 | Contagious Disease

Boy's Face with Measles

Picture of Boys face with measles red spots

On January 2, 2018, an international traveler with a confirmed case of measles—a highly contagious disease—arrived in Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport and departed for Indianapolis from a domestic terminal. The woman, an Indiana University student who was traveling alone, was infectious on that day and may have traveled to other areas of the airport.

If you were at the airport between 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m, you may have been exposed to measles, and if infected could develop symptoms as late as January 23. If you develop symptoms of measles, the Department of Health recommends that you call a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department. Special arrangements can be made for evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection. (more…)