Australian health authorities have urged thousands of former patients of a retired Sydney dentist to undergo testing for bloodborne viruses, including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, following the discovery of serious infection control failures at his clinic.
The warning was issued by the New South Wales Health Ministry after an audit at the clinic of Dr William Tam in Strathfield, western Sydney, uncovered poor cleaning procedures and improperly sterilised dental equipment.
Officials said the overall risk of infection is considered low, but stressed that anyone treated at the clinic over the past 25 years should consult a doctor and consider testing.
“The poor infection control practices at Dr Tam’s practice means all former patients may be at low risk of a blood borne virus infection, which can have serious and long-lasting health impacts,” said Dr Leena Gupta, public health clinical director of the Sydney Local Health District.
Authorities believe Tam treated thousands of patients during his career, but said there are no comprehensive records available to contact all former patients directly.
Dr Zeina Najjar, a specialist with the Sydney Local Health District, told reporters that inspectors identified multiple breaches during an audit conducted in April, including inadequate sterilisation of dental tools and poor hygiene measures.
Local media reported that Tam retired and was de-registered as a dentist two weeks after the inspection.
Health officials warned that infections such as HIV and hepatitis can remain symptomless for years or even decades, making early testing essential for diagnosis and treatment.
The incident has revived concerns over infection control standards in Australian dental clinics. In recent years, similar warnings were issued to thousands of patients at dental practices in Sydney suburbs including Haberfield and Mortdale after authorities identified potential exposure risks linked to poor sterilisation procedures.
