A trendy and popular Bondi wellness centre has been permanently shut down by Sydney health authorities after unleashing an infection scare and its clients from the last seven years are advised to see their GP as soon as possible as a precautionary measure.
In December 2020, two of Detoxologie’s clients ended up in the hospital after undergoing intravenous infusions at the centre. An investigation by the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC), which received the complaints, revealed that the patients were likely given contaminated infusions from non-sterile equipment.
Whilst the risks of blood-borne viral infection spread is small, experts from the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District said that customers of Detoxologie from 2013 to 2020 should get tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV, especially if they have had invasive procedures like the infusions, facial micro-needling, blood tests for food allergies, and colonic irrigation.
Director of the Local Health District’s Public Health Unit Mark Ferson said that no cases of blood-borne virus infections were linked to Detoxologie to date. However, blood-borne viral infections can be silently affecting a person’s health for years before it becomes a full-blown disease.
Ferson also said that a positive test will help the individuals prevent passing the infection to their loved-ones. They could also receive effective treatments as soon as possible.
Before it was shut down, Detoxologie traded at the Eastgate Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction. It previously had a shop on Oxford Street. Investigators said that the centre resumed business after the incident in December and complied with the infection control measures.
However, in early February 2021, the HCCC said that one of its practitioners, Fay Fain, prescribed medication that was not approved for use in Australia. Ms Fain said she’s a registered nurse but there is no record of her credentials as a nurse practitioner in Australia.
Ms Fain has been prohibited from providing health services whilst Detoxologie is no longer in business.
