Halton Region Public Health: Office of the Medical Officer of Health

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Quick facts

• Halton Region Public Health has identified an infection prevention and control (IPAC) lapse at Halton Family Health Centre (HFHC) Walk-in Clinic located at 2951 Walkers Line, Burlington. 
• Although the risk of disease transmission is considered low, Halton Region Public Health is advising patients who received local anesthetic injections at HFHC walk-in clinic between January 1, 2019, and July 17, 2025 to consult their healthcare provider or visit a walk-in clinic to discuss testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.

Key messages for healthcare providers

• The IPAC lapse involved improper practices related to the use of multidose vials, which may have resulted in the contamination of local injectable anesthetic medication with blood. Consequently, patients who received procedures involving local anesthetics may have been exposed to blood-borne pathogens. 
• Procedures that commonly involve local injectable anesthetics include, but are not limited to:
  • laceration repairs
  • intrauterine device (IUD) insertions
  • endometrial biopsies
  • skin biopsies
  • Partial or complete nail resections
  • Joint injections or aspirations
• If your patient did not receive any procedures requiring local injectable anesthetics at this clinic during the identified period, no further action is required.
• Improper use of multidose vials for injectable medications increases the risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
• To facilitate testing, please use the pre-populated General Test Requisition Form (PDF file) provided by the patient and available to download at Halton.ca. Please ensure that you include the IPAC Investigation Number: HAL-2025-00002.

Public Health Ontario testing recommendations based on exposure timeframe

Date of last procedure more than 6 months ago

• ​​Test now: HIV, HBV*, and HCV.

Date of last procedure between 3 and 6 months ago

• Test now: HIV, HBV*, HCV
• Test 6 months from last procedure: HBV*, HCV

Date of last procedure less than 3 months ago

• Test now: HIV, HBV*, HCV
• Test 3 months from last procedure: HIV, HBV*, HCV
• Test 6 months from last procedure: HIV, HBV*, HCV

Notes on testing

*HBV testing is not indicated if the patient has documented serological immunity (anti-HBs titre of at least 10 mIU/mL).

Healthcare providers are encouraged to use this opportunity to recommend hepatitis B vaccination for any patients who are eligible and not currently immunized.

Additional resources

Test Information Sheets from PHO for HIV, HBV and HCV serology:

• HIV: www.publichealthontario.ca/HIVDiagSero (external link)
• HBV: www.publichealthontario.ca/HepBSero (external link)
• HCV: www.publichealthontario.ca/HepCDS (external link)

For further information, please contact Halton Region Public Health at 905-825-6000  or call 311 .