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Monday, July 23, 2012

Seven States Wrapped Up in Hepatitis C Probe

A medical technician was arrested after 30 Exeter Hospital patients were infected.

By Jason Claffey
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A disastrous hepatitis C outbreak first detected in Exeter now involves seven states.

Former Exeter Hospital worker Dave Kwiatkowski last week was charged with spreading his hepatitis C to 30 patients by stealing their medication to get high.

Prosecutors said Kwiatkowski would shoot himself up with syringes full of powerful narcotics like Fentanyl and then replace the needles with a solution to make it look as if they were untouched. The tainted needles were then used on unsuspecting patients. The tactic is known as "drug diversion."

Kwiatkowski, who prosecutors said knew he had hepatitis C as early as June 2010, was a "traveler" who did technicial work in New Hampshire and six other states.

The Associated Press identified the following hospitals Kwiatkowski has worked at:

  • Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. Kwiatkowski worked there from May 2010 to Sept. 2010.
  • Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He worked there for six months starting in July 2009
  • Saint Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York. He worked there from late 2007 to early 2008.
  • An unidentified hospital in Michigan.

Health officials have not identifed the two states Kwiatkowski worked at, but said they are working with their counterparts in all seven states to determine if he spread his hepatitis C to patients.

Kwiatkowski faces up to 24 years in prison on charges of fraud and tampering. He could face more serious charges if any of his alleged victims ends up dying of hepatitis C – a liver disease that can be fatal.

Kwiatkowski is currently undergoing treatment for his hepatitis C at a Massachusetts hospital. He is expected to be in court this week.

An FBI report portrayed Kwiatkowski as a pathological liar who faked a cancer diagnosis and made up stories about playing college baseball and having a dead fiance.

When investigators asked Kwiatkowski about the Exeter victims, he told them, "I'm more concerned about myself, my own well being ... I've learned here to just worry about myself and that's all I really care about now."

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