Portland, Oregon (AP) — Healthcare officials have alerted over 2,400 patients across Portland, Oregon, about potential exposure to infectious diseases including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, due to an anesthesiologist who reportedly neglected infection control practices.

Providence, in a statement released on Thursday, disclosed that approximately 2,200 individuals treated at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center in Oregon City, along with two patients at Providence Portland Medical Center, may have been at low risk of exposure to these infections due to the physician’s actions.

Affected individuals are urged to undergo complimentary blood tests to screen for possible infections. Providence has committed to providing support and guidance to patients who test positive.

The physician, employed by Oregon Anesthesiology Group, worked at both Providence facilities from 2017 to 2023. Additionally, the physician spent six months from December 2023 at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center in Gresham, where Legacy Health is notifying 221 potentially affected patients via letter, as reported by KGW-TV.

Oregon Anesthesiology Group confirmed the termination of the physician in question, emphasizing the implementation of new protocols to prevent future incidents despite the low risk associated with the breach.

According to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), investigations are ongoing into the breach involving the physician's inadequate infection control practices during intravenous anaesthesia administration, which posed potential risks to patient safety.

OHA continues to collaborate with Legacy Health and Providence on their respective investigations, and to date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this breach of infection control protocols.