About 450 patients being treated at Salem Hospital in Massachusetts, USA, may have been exposed to hepatitis and HIV due to improperly administered intravenous drugs.
"Earlier this year we learned that a small number of endoscopy patients may have been exposed to infections due to improper administration of intravenous medications," the hospital said in a statement.
Endoscopy is an operation in which a device with a small lighted camera at the end is inserted through the patient's throat to visualize the esophagus, stomach and intestines.
"Once the situation was recognized, the practice was immediately corrected and the hospital's infection control teams were informed," hospital officials told Livescience.
"NO CLEAR FİNDİNGS"
Hospital staff contacted by public health officials said there was no clear evidence of infection of the patients yet.
According to The Salem News, the patients at risk had received treatment between June 14, 2021 and April 19, 2023.
Geoff Millar, one of the patients in question, said he called the hospital's hotline and was told that a disposable piece of equipment had been used on him twice.
It is stated that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Salem Hospital regarding the incident.
IT HAPPENED INDİA
A similar scandal had recently erupted in India.
It was learned that 14 children, aged between 6 and 16, contracted hepatitis and HIV infections while being treated for Mediterranean anemia.
Arun Arya, head of the pediatrics department at Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital (LLRH), announced that out of 180 patients screened, 7 tested positive for hepatitis B, 5 tested positive for hepatitis C and two tested positive for HIV.
