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Home › News Centre › National Press Releases ›2008 Press Releases ›  Health Protection Agency to issue guidance on blood-glucose testing after infection control breakdowns resulted in onward transmission of hepatitis B
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Health Protection Agency to issue guidance on blood-glucose testing after infection control breakdowns resulted in onward transmission of hepatitis B

15 September 2008

Investigations into a series of hepatitis B outbreaks linked to blood-glucose testing in residential care homes have indicated that in each case there was a serious breakdown in infection control procedures. 


As a result of these incidents, the HPA is drawing up new guidance for blood-glucose testing in residential care homes.

Dr. Erika Duffell, a Consultant with the Health Protection Agency's Greater Manchester Health Protection Unit (HPU), told delegates at the Agency's annual conference at Warwick University that five incidents of onward transmission of hepatitis B occurred in residential care homes across the country, between 2004 and 2007.

"In the largest incident, hepatitis B infection was transmitted to seven people. These were predominantly elderly people, average age 75, with diabetes. Infections in these settings are particularly serious as acute hepatitis B has a high mortality rate in older people," Dr. Duffell said.

"It is suspected that transmission in these incidents resulted from staff incorrectly using individual patient finger-stick lancet devices for blood-glucose testing. Cross contamination is likely to have occurred during this process as these devices are not suitable for multiple patient use in such settings."
The Agency's advice is that for blood glucose monitoring in community care homes, staff should use either disposable single use lancing devices which are discarded after use, or a non-disposable lancing device that has been specifically designed for use on multiple patients.

Ends


Notes to editors

  1. 1. The Health Protection Agency's Annual Conference takes place at the University of Warwick from 15th to 17th September. Further information can be found at the conference website at www.healthprotectionconference.org.uk
  2. 2. The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency's buyers' guide to the purchasing of lancing equipment may be accessed via the following web link. http://nww.pasa.nhs.uk/pasa/Doc.aspx?Path=%5bMN%5d%5bSP%5d/NHSprocurement/CEP/POC/CEP07025.pdf
  3. 3. The Health Protection 2008 conference press office can be contacted between 9am - 5pm on 024 765 72982; out of hours on 0208 200 4400.

Last reviewed: 15 September 2008