Thousands of former patients of a retired Sydney dentist have been urged to get tested for blood-borne viruses following concerns about infection control practices at his clinic. NSW Health issued the alert on Wednesday, advising all patients of Dr William Tam, who practised at Albert Road in Strathfield for over 25 years, to see their GP and request testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.
Low risk but serious health impacts
Dr Leena Gupta, clinical director of public health for the Sydney Local Health District, said that while the risk is low, the poor infection control practices could lead to serious health issues. “The poor infection control practices at Dr Tam’s practice means all former patients may be at low risk of a blood-borne virus infection, which can have serious and long-lasting health impacts,” she said. “As a precaution, we are asking all of Dr Tam’s previous patients to seek testing for blood-borne viruses.”
Gupta emphasised that people with HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C may not show symptoms for decades, making testing crucial for early treatment. “So it is important that people at risk of these infections are tested, so that they can access treatment as appropriate. There are effective treatments available for all three conditions,” she added.
Audit reveals inadequate sterilisation
Dr Zeina Najjar, a staff specialist in public health for the Sydney Local Health District, explained that an audit conducted in April identified inadequate sterilisation of equipment and poor cleaning at the clinic. “For this reason, concerns were raised for blood-borne virus transmission,” she said at a press conference. The audit was triggered by a complaint to the Dental Council of NSW, though details of the complaint were not disclosed.
Najjar noted that none of the patients have been diagnosed with a blood-borne virus so far, but poor record keeping made it impossible to identify all potentially affected individuals, prompting the public appeal. She added that patients who underwent invasive dental procedures, such as those where instruments pierced the skin or gums, are at slightly higher risk, though overall risk remains low.
Dr Tam is retired and no longer a registered dentist. Former patients with questions can contact their GP or Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
