Health bosses have contacted 170 patients after they realised that instruments used at a foot clinic had not been properly sterilised.
Selby and York Primary Care Trust has written to patients who were treated at a chiropody clinic in Sherburn-in-Elmet between June 2000 and March last year.
The patients have been told the risk of infection from this incident is remote and procedures have been tightened up.
A spokeswoman for the trust said the letters were sent out to ensure patients were fully informed of what was happening.
While there was a theoretical possibility of passing on diseases such as hepatitis, independent medical advice considered this possibility to be "extremely remote".
Patients who have any concerns are asked to contact the health help-line, NHS Direct, on 0845 46 47
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