Employee's drug use eyed in hepatitis C outbreak that infects 20 at N.H. hospital

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(CBS News) What's behind the hepatitis C outbreak at New Hampshire hospital that's sickened twenty people?

CBS Boston reports that 19 patients of Exeter Hospital's Cardiac Catheterization Lab and a hospital worker have been diagnosed with the same strain of the liver-damaging disease since the state began investigating the outbreak last month.

CDC urges hepatitis C test for all baby boomers born between 1945 and 1965

On Wednesday Dr. Jose Montero, New Hampshire's public health director, said that the ongoing investigation points towards "drug diversion" as the cause of the outbreak, according to CBS Boston. That means an infected employee might have used a syringe on himself to get a drug fix and then used the same needle on patients.

CBS Boston reports that two people have sued the hospital. A lawsuit filed by a 50-year-old man who was infected says the hospital, "failed to exercise reasonable care to ensure that its patients are not infected with deadly diseases."

Hospital officials asked in a statement on Thursday for anyone treated at the Cardiac Catherization Lab between October 1, 2010 and May 25, 2012 to be tested.

The hospital said Friday in a statement on its website that it has already directly reached more than 600 individuals who were tested as a result of the investigation. It also said an open forum will be held tonight at the Exeter High School so epidemiologists can update the public on their investigation and answer any questions.

The outbreak was first announced in May, according to CBS Boston.

The New York Daily News reported last month that a former radiology technician at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonsivlle, Fla. admitted to infecting patients at the hospital with hepatitis C by stealing the painkiller Fentanyl to shoot up before refilling them with saline and giving them to patients. Two people were infected, one of which died.

[osloctopus]

That MF busturd should be sued individually for a Hundred million bucks per person, plus attempted murder charges filed. No person should ever walk free who does something like this!

[David_Tampa]

My two recent experiences taught me that the particular hospital I was involved with is over populated and grossly understaffed. It is basically closed on the weekends. There are no doctors present only GP's and a few nurses. The staff was polite, and as helpful as possible. The Corporate owners seemed to be the problem.

[fiddlestickawshucks]

Disgraceful.!!

The person (s) ressponsible for this should be posecuted for attempted murder; and in the case of the person who died; negligent omicide.

Nurses, Drs. and technicians steal pain killers to feed their own habits.

Two kids in an apartment house were recently arrested for smoking pot in their own apartment.

The arresting officer also found in the home of these kids a medium sized glass jar filled with morphine.

The mother was a nurse at a local hospital.

How many of her patients; who really need the morphine; suffered needless pain because of her.

A hospital is no place for sick people.

Having been hospitalized numerous times in the past two years, I have seen all kinds of mistakes and patient neglect.

I just thank GOD that my mind remained clear during the hospitalizations and I was able to avoid any harm.

Twelve hour shifts and not enough personnel are responsible for many such occurences.

But; to knowingly harm patients is inexscusable.!!

[ludvig1-2009]

Just when you thought you couldn't get Hep C through no fault of your own, it bites back. I know someone who got it through a blood transfusion in 1980 and it's been a difficult time for them doing the treatment. The treatment only has 12 days to go and the complaints about how they feel seem to be getting worse instead of better. At least the strain (genotype) that they have has a clear rate of 83-85%, so they have a good chance of ridding themselves of this killer disease.

[ludvig1-2009]

Just when you thought you couldn't get Hep C through no fault of your own, it bites back. I know someone who got it through a blood transfusion in 1980 and it's been a difficult time for them doing the treatment. The treatment only has 12 days to go and the complaints about how they feel seem to be getting worse instead of better. At least the strain (genotype) that they have has a clear rate of 83-85%, so they have a good chance of ridding themselves of this killer disease.

[mdudley1951]

What strain (genotype) do they have? Is it genotype 3a? Does anyone know?

[alphaa10000]

A complex knot of issues, ranging from screening personnel for drug records to proper review and analysis of case outcomes. The last party to review hospital mortality and disease should be the hospital, itself.

Still another case against the dubious proposition "industry can regulate itself".