NY State Health Department, Nassau Hospital Notify Patients of Possible Hepatitis C Exposure

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http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/news/2011/02/ny-state-health-department-nas\

sau-hospital-notify-patients-of-possible-hepatitis-c-exposure.aspx

NY State Health Department, Nassau Hospital Notify Patients of Possible

Hepatitis C Exposure

Four patients treated at South Nassau Communities Hospital Pain Management

Center will receive letters this week advising them to be tested for hepatitis

C, hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections.

The notification is based on an investigation by the New York State Department

of Health with the full cooperation of South Nassau Communities Hospital. The

investigation was initiated after a patient treated at the Pain Management

Center in May 2010 developed a new hepatitis C infection.

The investigation yielded no evidence linking the patient's infection to the

Pain Management Center; however, investigators found that a patient who was

treated earlier on the same day had chronic hepatitis C infection. It could not

be determined whether the infection was transmitted from one patient to the

other or whether the finding was a coincidence. It is estimated that about 1.3

percent of the U.S. population is infected with hepatitis C.

While the chance is low that any additional patients are at risk of infection,

four patients treated that same day are being notified out of an abundance of

caution. It is standard procedure to recommend testing for other infections that

are spread in similar ways, such as hepatitis B and HIV, when a possible

transmission of hepatitis C is identified. The New York State Department of

Health provides public notification when any patients are notified as a result

of an investigation.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus, which is found

in the blood of persons who have this disease. Hepatitis C is usually spread by

contact with the blood of an infected person, such as by sharing needles or

other injection equipment.

Patients with questions can call the state Department of Health toll-free at

1-888-636-1551 during regular business hours.

[Guest guest]

http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/news/2011/02/ny-state-health-department-nas\

sau-hospital-notify-patients-of-possible-hepatitis-c-exposure.aspx

NY State Health Department, Nassau Hospital Notify Patients of Possible

Hepatitis C Exposure

Four patients treated at South Nassau Communities Hospital Pain Management

Center will receive letters this week advising them to be tested for hepatitis

C, hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections.

The notification is based on an investigation by the New York State Department

of Health with the full cooperation of South Nassau Communities Hospital. The

investigation was initiated after a patient treated at the Pain Management

Center in May 2010 developed a new hepatitis C infection.

The investigation yielded no evidence linking the patient's infection to the

Pain Management Center; however, investigators found that a patient who was

treated earlier on the same day had chronic hepatitis C infection. It could not

be determined whether the infection was transmitted from one patient to the

other or whether the finding was a coincidence. It is estimated that about 1.3

percent of the U.S. population is infected with hepatitis C.

While the chance is low that any additional patients are at risk of infection,

four patients treated that same day are being notified out of an abundance of

caution. It is standard procedure to recommend testing for other infections that

are spread in similar ways, such as hepatitis B and HIV, when a possible

transmission of hepatitis C is identified. The New York State Department of

Health provides public notification when any patients are notified as a result

of an investigation.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus, which is found

in the blood of persons who have this disease. Hepatitis C is usually spread by

contact with the blood of an infected person, such as by sharing needles or

other injection equipment.

Patients with questions can call the state Department of Health toll-free at

1-888-636-1551 during regular business hours.