Stephen Stein, Oral Surgeon, Accused Of Reusing Needles And Putting 8,000 People At Risk For HIV And Hepatitis

As many as 8,000 people could be at risk for HIV and hepatitis after a Colorado oral surgeon was accused of reusing needles on his patients over the last decade, according to news reports.

CBS News reported that Dr. Stephen Stein, who practiced at Stein Oral and Facial Surgery, is accused of using needles that had been used for surgical procedures and IVs on multiple patients.

Patients who visited Stein's practices between Sept. 1999 and June 2011 were sent letters from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment warning of the needle misuse, NBC News reported.

Stein is not currently practicing dentistry; he stopped practicing last June, the Denver Post reported.

If the blood of a patient who has hepatitis or HIV is left on the syringe after it is used, and then that syringe is then put into another person, the risk for transmission of disease is raised, according to a statement on the department of health's website. However, there have not been any incidents of HIV or hepatitis that have so far been linked with Stein's alleged needle misuse.

Stein "is cooperating with the state's investigation," his lawyer told Reuters.

According to a statement on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website, the two dental office locations where Stein practiced over the last 10 years are 8671 South Quebec Street, #230, Highlands Ranch, CO 80130, and 3737 East 1st Avenue, Suite B, Denver, CO 80206.

The Denver Post reported that Stein is also under investigation for prescription fraud.

For more, watch CBS Denver's video above.