A lab technician infected with hepatitis C may have exposed hundreds or thousands of patients at hospitals in eight states, according to reports from CNN and other media outlets.
The technician, David Kwiatkowski, 33, allegedly injected himself with pain relievers, including Fentanyl, that were meant for patients while he worked at Exeter Hospital in Exeter, N.H.
Kwiatkowski was arrested earlier this month and charged with obtaining controlled substances by fraud and tampering with a consumer product. According to the CNN report, 30 Exeter patients have been diagnosed with the same strain of hepatitis C that Kwitakowski has.
Kwiatkowski, 33, worked as a traveling medical technician in Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania, according to CNN. He reportedly tested positive for hepatitis C in June 2010.
CNN presented the following list of hospitals at which Kwiatkowski previously worked as a radiology technician and in cardiac catheterization labs: Oakwood Hospital, Trenton, Mich., January-September 2007; Saint Francis Hospital, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., November 2007-February 2008; Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center, May-November 2008; Southern Maryland Hospital, Clinton, Md., December 2008-February 2009; Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, July 2009-January 2010; Maryland General Hospital, Baltimore, January-March 2010; Hays (Kan.) Medical Center, May-September 2010; Houston Medical Center, Warner Robins, Ga., October 2010-March 2011.
According to the Associated Press, Kwiatkowski also worked at two Phoenix-area hospitals in recent years: Maryvale Hospital, March-June 2009, and the Arizona Heart Hospital, March-April 2010.
Patients who may have been in contact with Kwiatkowski at any of those hospitals should contact a healthcare professional or their state’s public health department. Kwiatkowski also has worked in Pennsylvania, according to reports, although the dates and facilities are as yet unknown.
In New Hampshire, the state health department has said anyone who was a patient in the Exeter OR or ICU between April 1, 2011, and May 25, 2012 — about 6,000 patients, according to estimates — should be tested for hepatitis C. The hospital said Kwiatkowski visited those units during routine duties to transport patients, but was not involved with procedures or patient care.
“There is an extremely small chance that anyone will be found to have been infected with a hepatitis C strain that is genetically linked to Kwiatkowski outside of the cardiac catheterization unit,” Exeter Hospital wrote in a statement.
“However, as we continue to learn about Kwiatkowski’s history in other states from the ongoing criminal investigation, and out of an abundance of caution, Exeter Hospital supports the decision to offer expanded testing to patients treated in these two other areas even though Kwiatkowski had no formal role supporting procedures in those areas.”
Various other facilities at which Kwiatkowski has worked have announced plans to contact former patients and offer free testing.
The technician, David Kwiatkowski, 33, allegedly injected himself with pain relievers, including Fentanyl, that were meant for patients while he worked at Exeter Hospital in Exeter, N.H.
Kwiatkowski was arrested earlier this month and charged with obtaining controlled substances by fraud and tampering with a consumer product. According to the CNN report, 30 Exeter patients have been diagnosed with the same strain of hepatitis C that Kwitakowski has.
Kwiatkowski, 33, worked as a traveling medical technician in Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania, according to CNN. He reportedly tested positive for hepatitis C in June 2010.
CNN presented the following list of hospitals at which Kwiatkowski previously worked as a radiology technician and in cardiac catheterization labs: Oakwood Hospital, Trenton, Mich., January-September 2007; Saint Francis Hospital, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., November 2007-February 2008; Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center, May-November 2008; Southern Maryland Hospital, Clinton, Md., December 2008-February 2009; Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, July 2009-January 2010; Maryland General Hospital, Baltimore, January-March 2010; Hays (Kan.) Medical Center, May-September 2010; Houston Medical Center, Warner Robins, Ga., October 2010-March 2011.
According to the Associated Press, Kwiatkowski also worked at two Phoenix-area hospitals in recent years: Maryvale Hospital, March-June 2009, and the Arizona Heart Hospital, March-April 2010.
Patients who may have been in contact with Kwiatkowski at any of those hospitals should contact a healthcare professional or their state’s public health department. Kwiatkowski also has worked in Pennsylvania, according to reports, although the dates and facilities are as yet unknown.
In New Hampshire, the state health department has said anyone who was a patient in the Exeter OR or ICU between April 1, 2011, and May 25, 2012 — about 6,000 patients, according to estimates — should be tested for hepatitis C. The hospital said Kwiatkowski visited those units during routine duties to transport patients, but was not involved with procedures or patient care.
“There is an extremely small chance that anyone will be found to have been infected with a hepatitis C strain that is genetically linked to Kwiatkowski outside of the cardiac catheterization unit,” Exeter Hospital wrote in a statement.
“However, as we continue to learn about Kwiatkowski’s history in other states from the ongoing criminal investigation, and out of an abundance of caution, Exeter Hospital supports the decision to offer expanded testing to patients treated in these two other areas even though Kwiatkowski had no formal role supporting procedures in those areas.”
Various other facilities at which Kwiatkowski has worked have announced plans to contact former patients and offer free testing.
Send comments to editor@nurse.com or post comments below.
