Canada: Contaminated vial likely cause of hepatitis C outbreak: report

KITCHENER — Region of Waterloo Public Health concluded its investigation into a hepatitis C outbreak at a Kitchener colonoscopy clinic in late 2013.

The final report presented to a regional council committee Tuesday said what most likely happened is hepatitis C was spread from a previously undiagnosed client to four other patients at Tri-City Colonoscopy Clinic on Dec. 24, 2013, when a bottle of medication was contaminated.

"There was a lapse in infection control related to the use of multi-dose vials," said regional medical officer of health Dr. Liana Nolan. 

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Canada: Endoscope didn't cause hepatitis C outbreak at Kitchener clinic

Investigators from Region of Waterloo Public Health are still trying to figure out why five patients who had colonoscopies at a Kitchener clinic on Christmas Eve in 2013 were infected with hepatitis C. 

"We know that the endoscope that was used that day was not the cause. All of the clients had different endoscopes. So that wasn't what links those five patients together," said Dr. Liana Nolan, the medical officer of health for Waterloo Region, in a interview with Colin Butler on The Morning Edition Wednesday.

"This is strong evidence of patient to patient transmission of hepatitis C due to a lapse in infection prevention and control practices at the clinic," the report said. 

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Canada: Hepatitis C outbreak declared at Kitchener colonscopy clinic

A hepatitis C outbreak has been declared after five patients were diagnosed with the virus following treatment at the Tri-City Colonoscopy Clinic in Kitchener on Christmas Eve in 2013.  

The patients were treated that day along with eight others, according to a report from Waterloo Region Public Health. 

"At this point in time, Public Health has no evidence that there was a risk to clients seen on other days at Tri-City Colonoscopy Clinic," the report said. 

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