New Jersey surgery center may have infected patients
/ CBS News
Thousands of people who were treated at an outpatient surgery center in northern New Jersey are being urged to get their blood tested after a state investigation found unsanitary conditions at the facility. CBS New York reports the HealthPlus Surgery Center in Saddle Brook is alerting 3,778 patients that they may have been exposed to infections.
The warning covers people who had procedures there between January and Sept. 7, 2018.
In a letter to patients, the center said "during this time period, lapses in infection control in sterilization/cleaning instruments and the injection of medications may have exposed patients to bloodborne pathogens."
A state investigation found staff members were not following proper procedures. Officials shut down the facility from Sept. 7 through Sept. 28. It reopened after that.
The surgery center says it has improved its infection control and medication dispensing procedures, hired new staff and trained them on sterile processing, and has cleaned and repaired all instruments.
The center says the risk of infection is low, but health officials still want people to get tested for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV.
"It is important to note that to date, there have not been reports of any infections or illness related to the investigation. However, HealthPlus and the New Jersey Department of Health are recommending that those patients get tested as soon as possible," HealthPlus Surgery Center Administrator Betty McCabe said in a statement. "We recognize that this may be upsetting to our patients, and we are taking this matter very seriously and taking steps to assist them during this process."
Patients will be able to schedule a blood test at no charge to them, paid for by HealthPlus.
First published on December 25, 2018
© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
N.J. surgery center may have infected patients
Thousands of patients are urged to get blood tests after an investigation found lapses in cleaning and sterilizing surgical instruments
updated 0M ago 
Migrant child dies in Border Patrol custody; second in a month
Customs and Border Protection said the 8-year-old Guatemalan boy died early Christmas morning
updated 39M ago 
Trump says shutdown will continue until border wall demand is met
On Christmas, the president said the government will not reopen until lawmakers approve his $5 billion demand for border wall funding
4H ago 
Mega Millions Christmas jackpot tops $320 million
This could be a very memorable Christmas for some lucky lottery ticket holder
2H ago 
The unexpected origins of popular Christmas traditions
"Christmas is really about bringing out your inner pagan," says historian Kenneth C. Davis
7H ago 
Migrant child dies in Border Patrol custody; second in a month
Customs and Border Protection said the 8-year-old Guatemalan boy died early Christmas morning
updated 39M ago
Trump says shutdown will continue until border wall demand is met
On Christmas, the president said the government will not reopen until lawmakers approve his $5 billion demand for border wall funding
4H ago 
ICE unexpectedly drops hundreds of migrants at El Paso bus station
The agency may release hundreds more there in coming days, local officials say
9H ago 
Mnuchin call to "Plunge Protection Team" summons ghost of '08
Treasury Secretary's move to scramble members of an obscure White House group is making some stock analysts nervous
Dec 24 
Democrats decry Trump proposal to restrict green cards for immigrants who use public aid
The proposed rule would bar certain low-income immigrants who use public benefits from obtaining U.S. residency
9H ago
Migrant child dies in Border Patrol custody; second in a month
Customs and Border Protection said the 8-year-old Guatemalan boy died early Christmas morning
updated 39M ago 
Royal family celebrates Christmas as Prince Philip stays home
92-year-old Queen Elizabeth attended Christmas services at Sandringham along with Prince William and Kate, Prince Harry and Meghan, and other royal family members
3H ago 
Immersive show uses lasers, lights to bring the Sistine Chapel to life
An immersive new production in Rome brings a modern dimension to a story that's roughly 500 years old: Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel
8H ago 
Pope calls for peace, urges respect for "our differences"
"Our differences … are not a detriment or a danger; they are a source of richness," Pope Francis said in his annual Christmas message from the Vatican
3H ago 
Biblical city Bethlehem boasts largest Christmas in years
All hotels are fully booked and an "astounding" 10,000 visitors are expected, Palestinian tourism minister says
9H ago 
Andrea Bocelli teams up with son for emotional duet
The renowned classical singer has just released his first album of new music in 14 years, called "Si"
7H ago 
Meet a master craftsman who forges historical documents for the big screen
Ross MacDonald was a printer and illustrator by trade, but a phone call from John Hughes made him go Hollywood
8H ago 
Guitar shop handcrafts custom pieces with "bones of old New York"
Rick Kelly pumps out about four custom guitars per month, capturing a bygone era
8H ago 
Kevin Spacey charged with sexual assault
The charge comes more than a year after a former Boston news anchor came forward with allegations the disgraced actor sexually assaulted her teenage son at a bar in 2016
9H ago 
Ex-Disney actor charged with 6 counts in underage sex case
Prosecutors said Westmoreland was on a dating app when he found a profile operated by a detective in Salt Lake City
Dec 24 
Russians probe mysterious hole in space capsule
A Russian cosmonaut who recently returned to Earth is revealing more details about the mysterious hole in a Soyuz capsule docked to the International Space Station
2H ago 
"Ring of Fire" volcano triggered deadly tsunami
The deadly tsunami that struck Indonesia this weekend is just the latest in a series of seismic disasters along the "Ring of Fire"
9H ago 
Upcoming app aims to give you big leg up in online privacy battle
FigLeaf's offering seeks to let you learn where your personal data's been been leaked across the internet and arm you with new tools to stay private
Dec 24 
In esports, parents push young players to excel
Forget soccer or piano lessons – these days, some parents are encouraging their kids' interest in video gaming
Dec 24 
SpaceX launches Air Force's most powerful GPS satellite ever built
Running five days late, SpaceX launched a next-generation navigation satellite Saturday
Dec 23
N.J. surgery center may have infected patients
Thousands of patients are urged to get blood tests after an investigation found lapses in cleaning and sterilizing surgical instruments
updated 0M ago 
Does America's workforce have a drug problem?
Laboratory data show that drug use in health care, retail and other U.S. industries is on the rise
Dec 24 
Blood pressure medication recalled after cancer-causing chemical found
FDA announces that Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited is voluntarily recalling two lots of Losartan potassium tablets
Dec 23 
University Of Maryland confirms 40 adenovirus cases
One student at the university has been hospitalized with the illness
Dec 22 
164,000 pounds of raw ground turkey products recalled
"Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them"
Dec 24 
Mega Millions Christmas jackpot tops $320 million
This could be a very memorable Christmas for some lucky lottery ticket holder
2H ago 
Japan stocks plunge, other Asia markets fall after Wall Street dives
The heavy losses on U.S. markets were triggered by Trump continuing his strong criticism of the Fed
11H ago
Mnuchin call to "Plunge Protection Team" summons ghost of '08
Treasury Secretary's move to scramble members of an obscure White House group is making some stock analysts nervous
Dec 24 
President Trump blames Fed for economic jitters
As market rout deepens, the president is ratcheting up the tension with monetary policymakers
Dec 24
Does America's workforce have a drug problem?
Laboratory data show that drug use in health care, retail and other U.S. industries is on the rise
Dec 24 
New DNA tests ordered in 1983 Chino Hills, Calif. quadruple slayings
Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown says Kevin Cooper deserves one last shot at proving his contention that he was framed
1H ago
Kevin Spacey charged with sexual assault
The charge comes more than a year after a former Boston news anchor came forward with allegations the disgraced actor sexually assaulted her teenage son at a bar in 2016
9H ago 
Woman uses Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer costume during burglary
Fort Collins, Colorado police released surveillance video of her committing the crime
Dec 24 
LSU football player kills man trying to rob him and teammate
Two LSU football players were trying to sell an electronic item when one of them fatally shot an 18-year-old man trying to rob them, police say
Dec 23 
"El Chapo" witness from Chicago recalls naked man "tied to a tree with a chain"
Tirso Martinez Sanchez, Jorge Cifuentes and Pedro Flores now share the notoriety of being the most recent cooperators to testify against the infamous Mexican drug lord
Dec 23
