Hundreds of patients at Salem Hospital in Massachusetts were possibly exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, the hospital announced.
Nearly 450 patients undergoing endoscopy at the hospital located 20 miles northeast of Boston may have been exposed over a period of two years, according to a statement from Salem Hospital released Wednesday and provided to ABC News.
Endoscopy procedures occur when a doctor inserts a tube-like instrument into the body to look inside. Types of endoscopy procedures include those such as bronchoscopies, colonoscopies and laparoscopies.
Salem Hospital said patients may have been exposed during the administration of IV medications "in a manner not consistent with our best practice."
The hospital said it was made aware of the incidents earlier this year and that it corrected the practice and notified its quality and infection control teams.
Nearly 450 patients at Massachusetts hospital may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis
So far, no infections have been reported among the patients, the hospital said.
ByMary Kekatos
November 16, 2023, 10:53 AM
0:55
Nearly 450 patients at Massachusetts hospital may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis
Nearly 450 patients at Massachusetts hospital may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis
Nearly 450 patients at Salem Hospital in Massachusetts may have been exposed to…Read More
Hundreds of patients at Salem Hospital in Massachusetts were possibly exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, the hospital announced.
Nearly 450 patients undergoing endoscopy at the hospital located 20 miles northeast of Boston may have been exposed over a period of two years, according to a statement from Salem Hospital released Wednesday and provided to ABC News.
Endoscopy procedures occur when a doctor inserts a tube-like instrument into the body to look inside. Types of endoscopy procedures include those such as bronchoscopies, colonoscopies and laparoscopies.
MORE: FDA investigating hepatitis A outbreak possibly linked to organic strawberries
Salem Hospital said patients may have been exposed during the administration of IV medications "in a manner not consistent with our best practice."
The hospital said it was made aware of the incidents earlier this year and that it corrected the practice and notified its quality and infection control teams.
PHOTO: A Salem Hospital sign is seen on the front of a building in Salem, Mass.
A Salem Hospital sign is seen on the front of a building in Salem, Mass.
WCVB
No specifics were given by hospital officials on how the exposure may have occurred or how it was corrected.
Salem Hospital said it's been working with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health since learning of the exposure and after a review, "we have determined that the infection risk to patients from this event is extremely small," the statement read.
"Salem Hospital has notified all potentially impacted patients, set up a clinician-staffed hotline to answer questions, and we are providing them with free screening and any necessary support," the statement continued. "There is no evidence to date of any infections resulting from this incident."
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health told ABC News it performed an onsite investigation at the hospital and worked with the infection control team to manage the situation.
"DPH advised the hospital to notify all impacted patients in writing about the potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens and to offer free-of-charge follow-up care, including testing," the department said.
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/450-patients-massachusetts-hospital-exposed-hiv-hepatitis/story