The multi-state David Kwiatkowski drug diversion/HCV case is complicated. The Baltimore VA has not released information on the test results of the 168 patients they’ve contacted but we know that one veteran has joined a lawsuit.
What’s alarming is that Kwiatkowski was present at two different procedures on this vet, two years before he worked in Exeter, NH. The VA is taking full responsibility for this veteran’s treatment according to an article in seacoastonline.com.
The veteran is the father of five. He has been working with sick and elderly people, clueless that he was infected until a few weeks ago. Will continue to bring updates on this case as it develops.
asknod
Bethanie Spangenberg
kcraveiro
robinhoodesqvetsatty
Wesley McCauley
Veterans Claims Help 
The Baltimore VA Vietnam vet is thought to have been infected by the drug diversion incident because the HCV strain is exactly the same as the technologist who was in his operating room. But who knows what his liver biopsy will show–if he has one? And yes, you are correct: It’s rotten luck to end up with HCV after having dodged the HCV bullet during military service. But if his infection is only 5 years in its progression, his liver is in much better shape than it would have been had he gotten it 40 years ago and was just finding out!
In NH, 32 patients have been infected with the same HCV strain (and 14 with others have different strains). NH is in an uproar over what appears to have been extremely lax procedures with pain meds. And if the pain meds ended up in Kwaitokowski, instead of the patients, think of the post-op pain the patients must have endured. What happened (and is happening in NH) is incredible but I’m waiting for more information before posting on that situation. I think we will learn a lot more about health-care acquired infections.
3-minute video of this Baltimore veteran. His comments are sensible.
http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/region/baltimore_city/first-baltimore-victim-of-hepatitis-c-infected-hospital-tech-comes-forward
I don’t quite understand the correlation between 2 million Vets infected during the Vietnam and Post Vietnam Era (many of which don’t even know they are infected yet) and the NH ordeal? It would really swamp swampwater though if a VV dodged the one in four odds HCV bullet then just to be poked with the 10 million to one odds now….
HCV is strictly blood to blood….The risk that he could infect someone in his profession is quite low.