Three patients of dirty-needle-using dentist have been infected

DENVER — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said three people have tested positive for HIV or some form of hepatitis after seeing a dentist who reused dirty needles.

A month ago, the Health Department reported that Dr. Stephen Stein exposed more than 8,000 patients to HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C when utilizing “unsafe injection practices” at his two offices Denver Metro offices. The department urged all of Stein’s patients to get tested for the diseases.

These three cases were identified as a result of that testing.

The Health Department said it will not release the names of the three individuals nor will the department identify which diseases the individuals contracted. Officials only confirmed that all three were patients of Stein’s at some point between 1999-2011.

How you can help ensure your dentist is partaking in safe medical practices.

The department stressed that this does not necessarily mean these positive tests can be linked to Stein’s needles and syringes, which, according to reporters, were re-used over and over — sometimes over the course of several days.

The Health Department said it will continue to update the number of Stein’s former patients who have become infected with HIV or hepatitis on the first of each month.

Since the report, Stein has left the area and gone into hiding. It’s unknown if he will be charged with a crime, and one local attorney said lawsuits filed against Stein “most likely” won’t offer enough compensation for all the patients who have been exposed.

Resource Center
Call CO-HELP at 1-877-462-2911 or visit
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/

Safe Injection Practices
Information about HIV
Information about hepatitis
How you can help ensure your dentist is partaking in safe medical practices.