Patients of 2nd P.E.I. podiatry clinic told to get blood tests after 'infection control breaches'

P.E.I.'s Chief Public Health Office has confirmed it told patients of a second podiatry clinic, Bettles Podiatry, to get blood testing after flagging "infection control breaches" this summer. 

Back in June, the office issued a public advisory telling patients of Johnson Podiatry who'd had certain procedures to get tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, just as a precaution. 

Health officials inspected the clinic after receiving a complaint, and said they had identified problems with how equipment was being sterilized and disinfected. 

That inspection prompted the CPHO to look into other podiatry clinics on the Island. 

Officials then flagged similar sterilization concerns at Bettles Podiatry in Charlottetown in late July, and sent letters to its patients, advising them to undergo the same tests. 

However, no public advisory was issued in that case. 

"The CPHO was able to receive a complete client contact list from Bettles Podiatry," a CPHO spokesperson said in an email Tuesday. "Due to the completeness of the contact information, it was determined that a public notification would not be required to contact clients."

The office also gave an update on those who have been tested so far.

"Between the infection control [breaches] at Johnson Podiatry and Bettles Podiatry, a total of 520 people have been tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV," the email said. 

"There were no new positives or virus transmissions as a result of the testing."

Podiatrist Keith Bettles said the CPHO's actions have caused him undue stress and hurt his reputation — so much so that he's retiring this week, earlier than anticipated, after more than four decades providing foot care on the Island. 

"It's just been stressful all the way through," Bettles said. "Why should I be targeted when I've never had a complaint? I'm confident in my sterilization system. And we've never had any issues with it." 

He explained that he uses a dry heat system to sterilize his tools, following up with a sterile wipe just before he uses those tools on a new patient, whereas the province says he should be using a steam-based sterilization system.

"I've never had any problems in 43 years. And all of a sudden they tell patients they've got to get tested... It has [hurt my reputation]. We've had a lot of people cancel, and a lot of people not turn up."