Situation
LAC DPH is investigating potential healthcare-associated transmission of hepatitis C among patients who received care at Westside Multispecialty Medical Group (6200 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1212, Los Angeles, CA 90048). To date, LAC DPH has identified six cases of acute hepatitis C infection in patients who received injections, infusions, or procedures at this clinic between January 2016 and December 2018. The clinic has voluntarily closed since December 2018.
The incidence of acute hepatitis C among patients of this clinic is substantially higher than would be expected in the general population, and those with acute hepatitis C did not report other traditional risk factors. LAC DPH is concerned about healthcare-associated transmission of hepatitis C and is notifying patients who received care at this clinic about their potential exposure to hepatitis C. The exact source of these infections has not yet been identified and the investigation is ongoing.
Notification letters have been mailed to approximately 500 patients known to have been treated at the clinic between January 2016 and December 2018. The letter informs patients about their potential exposure to hepatitis C. In addition to getting tested for hepatitis C, the letter recommends that patients get tested for hepatitis B and HIV because these infections could also be transmitted by breaches in infection control procedures. We have not identified any acute hepatitis B or HIV infections among patients who received care this clinic.
