An internal review at UPMC Jameson hospital in New Castle found that disinfecting practices for internal ultrasound probes were not properly documented and followed, prompting immediate corrective action, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The probes were used in internal prostate, obstetrical and gynecological exams and UPMC contacted patients who may have been affected by the lapse. The health system is also offering affected patients precautionary blood and urine testing. UPMC acquired the 238-bed New Castle hospital in 2016.

“Any related health risks are extremely low,” UPMC said in a statement. But a new study suggests the problem could be widespread at hospitals.

In recent years, the use of ultrasound scans has expanded rapidly at hospitals nationwide. Improper disinfection practices for probes used in the tests have been linked to increased risk of infection and death, according to a study published in August in the American Journal of Infection Control, which found “extensive breaches of infection control guidelines” among the hospitals surveyed.

Radiology, ob/gyn and emergency medicine were the three most common departments where ultrasound probes were used in hospitals. Of the 358 health care facilities surveyed in the study, 20 percent reported instances where an ultrasound probe was used, but not correctly processed.

Kris B. Mamula: kmamula@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1699

First Published: November 2, 2018, 10:37 a.m.