Sydney dentist Safuan Hasic potentially exposed patients to HIV and hepatitis B and C
A dentist has been suspended and patients have been urged to get tested after they were potentially exposed to blood-borne diseases.
Patients of a Sydney dentist have been urged to get tested after they were potentially exposed to deadly-blood borne diseases.
The Dentist Council of NSW suspended dentist Safuan Hasic and closed his Mortdale dental surgery after authorities found poor cleaning and inadequate sterilisation left patients at risk of being exposed to HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
NSW Health identified a small number of patients treated at the practice and is contacting them with health advice, but a large proportion of his patients are unknown to NSW Health and cannot be contacted.
Mr Hasic was the sole dental practitioner at a surgery located at 70 Victoria St, Mortdale, in Sydney’s south.
People have been warned not to seek dental treatment from Mr Hasic while he is suspended and his surgery is closed.
South Eastern Sydney Public Health Unit director Vicky Sheppeard said while the potential risk of infection was low, blood-borne viruses could have serious health impacts.
“Any current or former patients of Mr Hasic should see their GP as soon as possible and ask to be tested for blood-borne viruses as a precautionary measure,” Dr Sheppeard said.
“Blood-borne viruses can be spread between clients on dental instruments where there isn’t stringent infection control.
“People infected with blood-borne viruses may not show symptoms for many years, so it is important to be tested to see if there is silent infection. There are effective treatments for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.”
NSW Health advised people who have been tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV after their last visit with Mr Hasic to check with their GP if more tests are required, even if results were negative.
Mr Hasic’s patients can contact their local public health unit on 1300 066 055 or access an information sheet on the NSW Health website health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/alerts/Pages/mortdale-hasicfaqs.aspx.
Originally published as Sydney dentist Safuan Hasic potentially exposed patients to HIV and hepatitis B and C
