About 1,000 patients may have been injected with anesthetic contaminated with unsterile needles at Burlington walk-in clinic: official – CTV
September 18, 2025
At least 1,000 patients were injected with a local anesthetic from a multidose vial that may have been contaminated by unsterile needles at a Burlington, Ont., walk-in clinic between 2019 and 2025, Halton Region Public Health (HRPH) says.
HRPH issued a public notice on Wednesday about an “infection prevention and control lapse” at Halton Family Centre Walk-in Clinic located at 2951 Walkers Line.
In the notice, HRPH said its investigation found the clinic used an unsterile needle with a multidose vial of freezing anesthesia and determined it was likely not an isolated incident. Health officials noted the practice might have occurred between Jan. 1, 2019 and July 17, 2025.
In an email to CP24 on Thursday, Isabel Contin, a communications specialist with Halton Region, said the investigation into the clinic was initiated following a complaint, but no further details were provided.
“In accordance with provincial standards, all infection prevention and control lapses are initiated through the assessment of a complaint or referral or through communicable disease surveillance data,” she said.
