South Florida Health Warning

Via ProMed Mail

HEPATITIS B AND C, HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS, NOSOCOMIAL - USA:
(FLORIDA) ALERT

Patients may have been exposed to HIV and hepatitis at Florida hospital
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More than 1800 patients treated by one nurse at a South Florida
hospital may have been exposed to HIV [human immunodeficiency virus]
and hepatitis [B and C virus infection].

Broward General Medical Center said Monday [5 Oct 2009] that a nurse
reused saline bags and tubing during cardiac stress tests involving
the injection of fluids. The hospital has sent letters to all 1851
people who may've been affected between January 2004 and early
September [2009?]. Hospital officials say the risk of exposure is low,
but all affected patients should be tested for HIV and hepatitis B and
C [virus infection].

The nurse, who has not been identified, resigned and was reported to
the Board of Nursing. The hospital discovered the problem after a
patient noticed the nurse misusing the equipment and anonymously
called in.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Brent Barrett

[The risk of transmission of infection in this incident would seem to
be low since apparently the 1st patients were exposed as long ago as
2004 and no cases of infection have been identified up to the present.
The extent of exposure, involving reuse of saline bags and tubing by a
single nurse, is also likely to have been low compared with other
incidents where there has been direct transmission of blood or re-use
of contaminated needles and syringes. However continued vigilance is
clearly necessary.

A map showing the location of Broward County, Florida, can be accessed at
.
The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of the southeastern US state
of Florida is available at
. - Mod.CP]

[see also:
HIV, nosocomial - Mexico: Mexico City, alert 20090811.2857
Hepatitis B & C, HIV, colonoscopy - USA: (TN,FL,GA) alert 20090328.1205
2008
----
Hepatitis B & C, HIV, nosocomial (05): USA (NV) 20081210.3882
Hepatitis B & C, HIV, nosocomial (04): USA (NV) 20080928.3073
Hepatitis B & C, HIV, nosocomial (03): USA (NV) 20080302.0854
Hepatitis B & C, HIV, nosocomial (02): USA (NV) 20080228.0809
Hepatitis B & C, HIV, nosocomial - USA: (NV), alert, RFI 20080228.0802
2007
----
HIV, nosocomial, child - Kyrgyzstan (Oshskaya) 20070805.2545
HIV, nosocomial transmission - Kazakhstan (03) 20070627.2070
HIV, nosocomial transmission - Kazakhstan (02) 20070318.0948
HIV, nosocomial transmission - Kazakhstan 20070215.0569
2006 ---
HIV, nosocomial transmission - Kazakhstan (02) 20061007.2884
HIV, nosocomial transmission - Kazakhstan 20060920.2689]
...................................cp/mj/dk
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