Pretty Exeter, located in the Seacoast region of NH, is home to the elite Phillips Exeter Academy, about 14,000 people (97% white), and a hospital, Exeter Hospital. My first granddaughter was born there and I can testify that it’s a clean, modern and calm hospital.
But things were gravely amiss in the Cardiac Catherization Lab and recovery room in recent years. It appears as if former patients contracted the same strain of HCV there. How? The theory is that a HCV-infected employee practiced “drug diversion” by injecting himself/herself with drugs and then using the dirty used needles on patients. According to reports, patients were originally tested for HCV from April 1, 2011 to May 25, 2012, but that date was later moved back to October, 2010.
The numbers of diagnosed HCV-infected patients increased as the crisis unfolded. Here are a few highlights from the hospital’s updates:
5/31/12: 4 patients have HCV.
6/1/12: Cardiac Cath Lab reopens for emergencies only (because HCV can live on surfaces for up to 5 days).
6/4/12: 4 patients (including one, an employee/healthcare worker (HCW), have HCV. 651 still need to be screened.
6/5/12: Cardiac Cath Lab reopens for normal operations.
6/6/12: 10 patients have HCV. 879 still need to be screened.
6/9/12: 14 patients have HCV.
6/13/12: 20 patients have HCV.
6/14/12: 316 new patients called. NH Attorney General’s Office opens investigation.
6/14/12: Hospital CEO apologizes on YouTube.
6/15/15: DPHS holds a forum at the public high school.
6/18/12: 24 patients need re-testing due to errors.
6/19/12: 976 patients tested.
6/20/12: 982 patients tested.
6/27/12: 20 patients, 1 employee (HCW) have HCV.
6/29/12: Unsafe injections due to “drug diversion” theory proposed.
7/2/12: 26 patients, 1 employee (HCW) have HCV.
Lawsuits are being filed, of course. If true, it’s alarming that criminal unsafe injections can take place for so long, undetected. If “drug diversion” injections take place in affluent healthcare settings, don’t we have to assume it’s happening in all healthcare settings? If “drug diversion” isn’t the true cause of the outbreak, what is?
asknod
Bethanie Spangenberg
kcraveiro
robinhoodesqvetsatty
Wesley McCauley
Veterans Claims Help 
Something smells fishy to me….kinda like everyone knows a tuna is close by but nobody can find it.
That convenient “theory” would exonerate the hospital of any unsafe medical devices or lack of sanitary medical practices. And of course it tends to foment fear of anyone with HCV. Until someone is taken into custody and found guilty, the hospital will have to bite the bullet and suffer the consequences. I’d like to be a fly on the wall during one of those settlement conferences. 🙂
I agree and also believe in due process; until proven guilty or a confession is obtained, the patient/healthcare worker should just be considered a member of the HCV cluster. HCV is a very very tiny and hardy virus. It’s much smaller than a single bacteria cell. It can live on objects like razors, medical devices and tool surfaces for days. Therefore one shouldn’t be quick to scapegoat a HCW without proof beyond a shadow of a doubt.
The hospital is providing testing at no cost. One report stated that they are treating for free. However, this is devastating news for people who already have serious health issues.
Will 10% be able to clear the virus naturally? Will 40-50% become SVR? Will the others progress? Will they be able to get liver transplants from Exeter Hospital at no charge?
Thousands of veterans receive treatment for their HCV infections in private hospitals. It would not surprise me if some of the newly-infected patients at Exeter Hospital are veterans. We’ll have to see what develops in NH.