DPH, Mass. hospital investigating after 450 patients possibly exposed to HIV, hepatitis

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said it is aware and investigating after hundreds of patients were potentially exposed to infection of HIV and hepatitis at Salem Hospital because of the improper administration of intravenous medication. A spokesperson for Mass General Brigham, which owns Salem Hospital, said Wednesday nearly 450 patients were impacted over a period of roughly two years.In a statement, the hospital said it was made aware of the isolated practice involving endoscopy patients earlier this year. Examples of endoscopic procedures include colonoscopies and gastrointestinal ultrasounds.The hospital said the practice was immediately corrected once it was notified and that the hospital’s quality and infection control teams were notified.DPH said it performed an onsite investigation at Salem Hospital. DPH’s Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality and the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences are working with Mass General Brigham’s infection control team to manage the situation.Both DPH and Salem Hospital said the infection risk to patients is extremely small, and there are no known evidence of infections resulting from the exposures. Exposed patients are being tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, Salem Hospital said.A spokesperson for Salem Hospital said all patients possibly exposed have been notified and 90 percent have either completed, scheduled or declined free testing. The Mass General Brigham spokesperson said patients who have not been notified have no need to be concerned.