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Health Unit Issuing Alert About Risk of Infection from Salon

September 20, 2023

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit is issuing an alert to clients of 1000 Nails in Gananoque, to consult their healthcare providers and discuss the risk of potential exposure to infections, including blood-borne infections such as Hepatitis B, C and to a lesser extent, HIV. Potential exposures may have occurred for clients who received services including manicures, pedicures and waxing services at the salon between March 2019 and August 18, 2023.

The Health Unit has identified that this operator may have used tools that were not properly cleaned and disinfected. While manicures, pedicures and waxing services are typically low risk for infection when proper infection prevention and control practices are followed, there is a risk that improper practices in this case may have caused skin infections from bacteria, and in rare circumstances may spread blood-borne infections. No infection or illness has been linked to this situation at this time. The Health Unit is taking this added precaution in response to repeated inspections that have identified significant infractions not meeting public health requirements.

“We have worked diligently with the operator to ensure that they can demonstrate an understanding of infection control techniques, and that the necessary corrections have been made so the business can continue to operate” says Dr. Linna Li, Medical Officer of Health for the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.

More information about the IPAC Lapse, including more details about the Health Unit’s risk assessment for this situation, can be found here: Infection Control Information. This website also includes an FAQ, a memo for healthcare providers, and a partially-completed laboratory requisition.

Please visit www.healthunit.org and click on the Infection Control Lapse tab for more information on the IPAC Lapse, and/or contact our toll free line at 1-800-660-5853 ext 2222.

Contact:

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