Salem Hospital says 450 patients may have been exposed to infection

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SALEM — Salem Hospital says nearly 450 patients may have been exposed to hepatitis and HIV while getting intravenous medication during endoscopy procedures.

The hospital says there is no evidence that any patient contracted an infection and that the risk of doing so is “extremely small.”

In a statement, the hospital said the risk of infection was due to “the administration of their intravenous medication in a manner not consistent with our best practice.” It said the practice was “immediately corrected” once it was identified.

A message to patients from Dr. Mitchell Rein, the chief medical officer at Salem Hospital, said the possible exposures took place between June 14, 2021, and April 19, 2023.

“Your risk of infection is very low,” Rein wrote. “To date, there has been no evidence of any infections resulting from this possible exposure. We are sorry for any worry this may cause.”

Rein said the hospital was collaborating with experts at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to provide testing and follow-up care “where appropriate.”

A spokesman for Salem Hospital said the the infections it is testing for are hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. He said all potentially impacted patients have been notified, and that patients who have not been notified do not need to be concerned.

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