Thu., August 27, 2009 4:23pm (EDT)

VA Director: 100% Sure Sterilization Problem Corrected

By Associated Press

Updated: 4 years ago

AUGUSTA, Ga.  —   The director of the Veterans Affairs medical center in Augusta says she is "100 percent sure" the hospital has corrected sterilization problems that may have exposed patients to infection.

Workers have undergone monthly inspections on how medical equipment is cleaned.

Last year, about 1,000 veterans treated at the Augusta VA were notified they may have been exposed to other people’s bodily fluids.

Including two other VA hospitals in Tennessee and Florida, more than 9,000 patients were also exposed.

A small number have tested positive for HIV or hepatitis.