Hepatitis C - Finally a conference examines issue of drug diversion

Conference Examines Issue Of Drug Diversion

Yesterday a conference was held by medical professionals to address the ongoing problem of drug diversion taking place at our hospitals and other medical facilities in the U.S. - see the video provided below.

The problem is widespread, for instance the hepatitis C outbreak at Exeter Hospital is one recent example. David Kwiatkowski a former employee of the hospital allegedly engaged in drug diversion by stealing syringes containing narcotics intended for patients, injecting himself with the drug and replacing the syringes with another liquid (such as saline), to be used on future patients. The possible transmission of hepatitis C occurs when the patient is injected with the fluid from the tainted syringe.

David Matthew Kwiatkowski Arrested

On July 19th David Matthew Kwiatkowski, 32, a former employee of Exeter Hospital, was arrested in Massachusetts and charged with obtaining controlled substances by fraud and tampering with a consumer product, announced United States Attorney John P. Kacavas.

The charges against Kwiatkowski relate to suspected thefts of the controlled substance Fentanyl, a powerful anesthetic that is substantially more potent than morphine. Although Fentanyl has many legitimate medical usages, it is also subject to diversion and abuse. In addition to stealing Fentanyl, Kwiatkowski, who has hepatitis C, allegedly caused at least 30 individuals to become infected with the blood-borne virus that can cause serious damage to the liver. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hepatitis C causes more deaths annually in the United States than HIV.

Continue Reading..

HaysMed hepatitis C cases up to 6

Published on -10/26/2012, 9:38 AM

In its first update since last month, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced Wednesday test results for Hays Medical Center patients possibly exposed to hepatitis C.  

Kwiatkowski was arrested July 19 in New Hampshire and charged with illegally obtaining drugs and tampering with a consumer product. He is accused of stealing drugs from Exeter Hospital and contaminating syringes that were used on patients.

*At least 32 patients tested positive for hepatitis C. Kwiatkowski's first court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 3.

Continue Reading...

Hepatitis C Outbreaks From 2008-2010 Attributed to Drug Diversion

Similar to the the Exeter Hospital outbreak, from 2008-2010 three case scenarios of drug diversion took place at the following medical facilities: Rose Medical Center in Denver, Mayo Clinic in Florida and Riverside Regional in Virginia, a complete summary is available here.  At the above mentioned facilities employees admitted to stealing syringes filled with Fentanyl and injecting themselves with the drug replacing the syringes with saline to be used on future unsuspecting patients. The employees, like Kwiatkowski, also traveled around taking jobs at various clinics and hospitals.

The Boston Sun reported today:

17 sue Columbia firm over hepatitis C exposure
Class-action lawsuit is second to allege agency failed to report technician

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against a Columbia-based medical staffing agency claiming it acted negligently in 2008 by hiring and placing a medical technician who allegedly went on to expose the plaintiffs to hepatitis C.

The lawsuit also says the firm and UPMC Presbyterian, the Pittsburgh hospital where the technician allegedly came in contact with the plaintiffs, knew he had put patients at risk by stealing narcotics but never informed patients or authorities until he was arrested in connection with a hepatitis C outbreak in New Hampshire this year.

The lawsuit against Maxim Staffing Solutions and UPMC was filed this week in the Court of Common Pleas in Allegheny County in Pennsylvania by the estate of a man who died after being treated at UPMC, his wife and 15 others, including six couples.

Continue Reading...

Drug Diversion Conference

Finally, medical officials held a conference on Thursday discussing a system to protect patients from future drug diversion.

Published on Oct 25, 2012 by wmurtv

 

 

 

 

Health Care–Associated Hepatitis C Virus Infections Attributed to Narcotic Diversion

 

In 2011, published online in the medical journal "Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers related five cases of HCV infection to drug tampering by an HCV-infected healthcare worker. The outbreak at Mayo Clinic in Florida is highlighted, download the full text here.

 

U.S. Government Accountability Office-(GAO): 38 Page Report On Viral Hepatitis Outbreaks 2001 - 2011

 

In a more recent report released on August 3, 2012 by the U.S. Government Accountability Office-(GAO), investigating unsafe injection practices in the U.S. using data from the CDC between 2001 and 2011- reported 18 outbreaks of viral hepatitis during the 10 year period.

 

The data covered more than 500 million procedures performed in ambulatory care settings.

 

Specifically, of the 18 outbreaks, 5 occurred in pain management clinics, 5 occurred in endoscopy clinics, 3 occurred in alternative medicine clinics, and 2 occurred in hematology-oncology clinics.

 

The 38 page report-"Patient Safety: HHS Has Taken Steps to Address Unsafe Injection Practices, but More Action Is Needed" can be downloaded here or viewed on the blog here.