Alberta Health Services (AHS) is informing all people who were clients at the Calgary Midwives Collective (CMC) between 2013 and March 2022 of a potential risk of exposure to hepatitis B because of unsterilized equipment. .“To prevent the spread of infection from one person to another, medical equipment must be cleaned, disinfected and sterilized according to specific health standards,” said AHS Calgary Zone, medical officer of health, Dr. Francesco Rizzuti, in a Thursday press release. .“As the CMC did not fully adhere to these sterilization processes, individuals who received services through this operation may have been exposed to hepatitis B.”.While the risk to clients is low, the release said AHS is advising all women who received prenatal, delivery, or post-natal care services through the CMC to call their doctor or Health Link at 811 to arrange for simple, confidential testing. .CMC operated at 1010 1 Ave. NE Unit #306. The release said there is no ongoing risk to the public because this midwifery service has shut down. .It went on to say the breach was discovered during a site inspection after a mask complaint. It added the inspection led to a lack of confidence proper sterilization of medical equipment was being done, so a closure order was issued in March. .After AHS-provided education to the owner on proper sterilization practices and introducing disposable medical products, CMC’s closure order was lifted. It resumed operations until voluntarily closing soon after. .CMC held a midwifery services agreement with AHS from 2013-2022, which requires midwifery services to adhere to particular sterilization standards and practices..AHS said it is working with the College of Midwives of Alberta to ensure a thorough review of this matter is done.
