Women’s and Children’s Hospital surgery patients ‘put at risk’ after storeroom humidity blunder leaves equipment unsafe

Dozens of children and female patients were put at risk during surgery after a storeroom blunder left surgical equipment unsafe for use.

The Minister for Health Chris Picton said expert doctors had assessed the risk as “extremely low” and had provided assurance to patients. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Dozens of children and female patients were put at risk during surgery after medically unsafe surgical equipment was stored in a humid room for more than a day, authorities admitted.

Hot weather sparked surgery chaos at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital earlier this month after “extreme humidity” in a storeroom cancelled many operations.

But after initially insisting no patients were operated on, SA Health on Monday night revealed compromised surgical instruments were used on 30 children and eight women.

At least two patients – one of whom developed an unspecified infection – received further treatment, including antibiotics, amid fears of medical complications.

Families of patients were warned of increased risk of an infection and what signs to look out for.

Clinicians feared patients were at risk from complications including wound infections, septicaemia, HIV or hepatitis.

Hospital bosses, who have already apologised for the blunders, disclosed sterilised equipment was in a specialised stockroom that “did not meet the required humidity levels” for at least 36 hours.

An ongoing review – involving specialist engineers – has so far failed to identify a cause for the “unusual” circumstances which are believed to have been related to Adelaide’s heat.

Earlier this month, WCH medical staff were forced to postpone non-urgent elective surgeries, due to humidity in a sterile storeroom that exposed surgical equipment to “sub-optimal” conditions.

Families of patients were warned of increased risk of an infection. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Almost 30 operations were delayed while all emergency surgery was unaffected and “urgent” elective surgeries were assessed before starting.

In response to inquiries on Monday night, Women’s and Children’s Health Network, chief executive officer, Rebecca Graham, said 38 patients had operations using equipment stored in unacceptable conditions.

“A period of time was identified where the sterilised equipment storage room did not meet the required humidity levels,” she said.

“Thirty-eight patients were operated on with this equipment.

“Patients and families were immediately notified and informed of the extremely low risk of infection post-surgery.”

She said other patients were given specialised post surgery treatment.

“Intravenous antibiotics were provided to one patient with an infection,” she said.

“However, there is no determination that this infection was due to the equipment used.

“Another patient without an infection received intravenous antibiotics as a precautionary measure.”

Her statement contrasts with public comments on March 13 when hospital bosses insisted no patients were affected.

The hospital’s director of surgery, Dr Sonja Latzel said no patient had surgery using instruments kept in the humid environment.

“Instruments were cleaned and sterilised as usual but kept in a sterile store room which has experienced increased humidity,” she said.

“That has led to the potential that it wasn’t kept at the standards we would expect and (standards) that are accepted for the storable of sterile equipment.

“I can confirm no patient yesterday had any surgery using instruments that were kept in that humid environment.”

The hospital’s director of surgery, Dr Sonja Latzel, said on March 13 no patient had surgery using instruments kept in the humid environment. Picture: neale Winter

But Women's and Children's Health Network chief executive Rebecca Graham said 38 patients had operations using equipment stored in unacceptable conditions. Picture: Supplied.

Dr Latzel said “out of an abundance of caution” staff decided to re-sterilise all of the equipment that was in the sterile store.

Last week Ms Graham apologised for the chaos and said most children whose procedures were delayed would be prioritised for rescheduled surgery “in the near future”.

She said the sterile stock storage room was deep cleaned and all surgical instruments decanted.

The Minister for Health Chris Picton said expert doctors had assessed the risk as “extremely low” and had provided assurance to patients.

“All families were promptly contacted and there have been no adverse outcomes identified,” he said.

A new alarm system has been installed that alerts humidity changes.

Originally published as Women’s and Children’s Hospital surgery patients ‘put at risk’ after storeroom humidity blunder leaves equipment unsafe