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Two O.C. hospitals resume elective surgeries after patient infections

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Elective surgeries resumed this week at two Orange County hospitals 10 days after officials there voluntarily halted procedures in the wake of four patients incurring bacterial infections.

The Mission Hospital patients became ill in May and June, prompting officials to temporarily stop elective procedures at their facilities in Mission Viejo and Laguna Beach, spokeswoman Susan Cole told the Coastline Pilot.

The hospital brought in outside healthcare experts to analyze the facility’s sterilization practices, as well as documenting temperature and humidity levels in rooms, which could have played a part in patients developing the infections, said Chris Bailey, Mission Viejo’s director of infection prevention.

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The infections were linked to the same bacterial strain, though Bailey declined to specify the type. At this point, officials do not know the bacteria’s cause.

The Joint Commission, which certifies agencies for Medicare and Medicaid funding, threatened to deny the hospital its accreditation — citing an immediate threat to the health or safety of patients and the public — following a site visit Oct. 8, commission spokeswoman Katie Looze said in an email.

The infections and subsequent warning from the Joint Commission were a wakeup call for the hospital to document conditions in greater detail, Bailey said.

“We will be reinspected and reaudited to verify what we’ve done, how it meets the standards,” Bailey said.

Trauma and emergency operations continued as normal during the 10-day period.

Alderton writes for Times Community News.

Follow the reporter on Twitter: @AldertonBryce

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