MEAO Post Deployment Health Alert FAQsWhat is the issue?The Al Minhad Air Base (AMAB) Health Facility has identified lapses in procedure in the operation of the surgical instrument steriliser at that facility during the period February 2009 to August 2010. As a consequence the sterilisation of surgical instruments at the facility can not be absolutely guaranteed to have met Australian standards. What were these procedural lapses?It has been identified that for some of this period, out of date external and internal indicator sterilisation strips and some out of date sterilising components such as the cleansing soap were used during the cleaning and sterilising process. Subsequent investigation also revealed that the water in the steriliser had not been changed in accordance with required procedures for some of this period. In some cases, administrative records regarding minor procedures were not maintained except on personal health records. What does this mean to me?If you did not have a minor surgical procedure at the Al Minhad Air Base Health Facility between February 2009 and August 2010 this alert does not apply to you. Personnel who underwent a minor surgical procedure (e.g. excision of skin lesions, minor operations) at the AMAB Health Facility during that period are possibly at LOW risk of acquiring a blood borne disease (e.g. HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C). What are these diseases?The three major blood borne viruses are Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). They each have a unique natural history, prognosis and treatment. HIV, HBV and HCV can be transmitted through sexual activity, needle-stick and contaminated sharps injuries, contact with body fluids, blood transfusion, tattooing, body piercing, intravenous drug use, and from mother to child during birth and breastfeeding. ADF personnel are screened for these diseases on a regular basis, however often deploy to areas where the community prevalence of infection with these viruses is often higher than in Australia. What is the Window Period?The window period is the interval between infection with a blood borne virus and the time when blood tests for infection are likely to become positive. This period is different for each type of virus. The window period is three months after exposure to HIV, HBV or HCV. A negative test at the end of the window period implies that infection is very unlikely. An infected person may have no symptoms of disease during the window period, but is able to transmit infection to others. It should be noted that new methods of testing which do not rely on antibody production may mean that infection can be detected or excluded earlier. If you had the procedure more than three months ago and have a negative test you no longer need to be concerned. Why is the risk assessed as being LOW?The potential risk to ADF personnel is assessed as LOW as:
What should I do?If you did not have a minor surgical procedure at the Al Minhad Air Base Health Facility between February 2009 and August 2010 this alert does not apply to you. All ADF members who deployed to the MEAO during the period February 2009 and August 2010 should have completed their post deployment medical examination as directed in the Joint Health Command Health Support Plan found on the Defence Intranet. This includes a post deployment health screen, medical examination and screening blood test for Hepatitis C and HIV. If members have not completed this screening they are advised to make an appointment with their local health centre at their convenience to undertake this screening. Any ADF personnel who underwent a minor surgical procedure at Al Minhad Air Base Health Facility or who have any concerns about their individual risk are advised to contact their local health centre for an appointment to discuss their concerns. I am not a member of the ADF, but I have been deployed to the MEAO. What is my risk?If you did not have a minor surgical procedure at the Al Minhad Air Base Health Facility between February 2009 and August 2010 this alert does not apply to you. Defence civilians are personnel who in the course of their employment will be providing support to Defence operations overseas. This includes Defence civilian employees, APS staff from other Government departments, AFP employees, Defence contractors, civilian entertainers and some civilian journalists. All visitors to the Middle East Area of Operations are similarly required to have complied with the relevant medical and dental fitness requirements including post deployment blood borne virus screening. Defence Civilians and contractors to Defence who underwent a minor surgical procedure at Al Minhad Air Base between February 2009 and August 2010 or who are concerned they may have been affected should contact their doctor for post deployment health screening following the same procedure as they completed for their pre-deployment medical screening. Anyone who underwent a minor surgical procedure at Al Minhad Air Base Health Facility between February 2009 and August 2010 will have the cost of medical assessments and any testing funded by Defence. What would happen if I was diagnosed with a blood borne disease?You should commence assessment and treatment for blood borne disease in accordance with Australian guidelines at the first available opportunity. Blood borne virus infection has implications for employment and operational deployment. Information released to Defence administrative authorities must be on a strictly need-to-know basis and will normally be limited to fitness for duty, expected time off work, likely changes to employability or deployability and occupational restrictions. Clinical information may only be released to such authorities if the member has given written authorisation. If you have been diagnosed with a blood borne disease and suspect it may be related to this event, confidential advice can be obtained by contacting the Director of Defence Clinical Services. This contact may be made anonymously. Why are you promulgating this advice?Joint Health Command is committed to the principle of open disclosure which provides an ethical framework for ensuring that staff inform patients, and where applicable their support person, in an open, honest and empathetic manner about a patient related incident and its implications for the health care of those patients. At this point in time, it is not possible for Joint Health Command to identify every person at risk. Wide disclosure aims to identify every person at risk and provide counselling and support as required. How do I know this will not happen again?Measures have been put in place to prevent a repeat of this procedural error. Only disposable instruments are now being used, standard operating procedures for the facility have been developed, and a regime of clinical governance audits to occur more frequently has been implemented. ADF members can have complete confidence that the health care being provided to them is routinely monitored to ensure all relevant governance issues are being followed. Who can I contact to discuss my concerns? Captain Elizabeth Rushbrook, RAN, Director Defence Clinical Services is the nominated point of contact. She can be contacted on 02 6266 3344 or via email Elizabeth.Rushbrook@defence.gov.au |
|
|
