An investigation into an Oklahoma dentist accused of potentially exposing patients to disease confirmed one case of patient-to-patient hepatitis C transmission, health officials said Wednesday. A total of 89 of W. Scott Harrington's patients tested positive for hepatitis C, but at this point only the one case has been directly tied to his dental practice in suburban Tulsa, officials said. Four cases of HIV were also found in his patients; the CDC is conducting genetic testing to determine whether those cases are tied to the dental office. "This is the first documented report of patient-to-patient transmission of hepatitis C virus associated with a dental setting in the United States," state epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley said. "While dental procedures are generally safe, this reinforces the importance of adhering to strict infection control procedures in dental settings."
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One case of patient-to-patient transmission of Hepatitis C linked to dental practice
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Four cases of HIV have been identified and are undergoing genetic testing at the CDC
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Investigators shut down W. Scott Harrington's practice in March
@placeholder is a contagious liver disease that can lead to liver failure and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.